Museum Walk – African Masks & More
A Photo essay on the amazing African collection of the De Young museum, San Francisco. There are about 150 photos so get your cup of coffee and enjoy this virtual … Continue reading
Hybrid Art 6 – Swat Pillow Case
A hybrid textile that memetically straddles two worlds … The motif is from Caucasus region and often seen in wool rugs while the execution in this piece from the Swat … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 5 – Himalayan Ornament
Here is a hybrid from the Himalayas. A Taweez is worn to ward off the evil eye and is a concept that finds favor in Islamic communities. But in this … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 4 – Phulkari Shawl
667 Amazing Sar Pallu on a navy blue Nilak base cloth. The impact of the gold & magenta against the deep blue base is amazing! But the remarkable aspect of this … Continue reading
Museum Walk – Papua New Guinea Shields & Spirit Boards
A visit to the De Young Museum enthralls even though I had NO clue what was looking at. The culture is brought out in the art, but sadly, clueless me … Continue reading
Little Temples in Gold – Majapahit Gold Rings
Pramabanan Temples. On a visit in 2016 I did not do it justice to the experience. At many levels. Just one day at the heritage site. A visit scheduled during … Continue reading
Desert Art – Motifs of the Bishnoi People
How can one not love this art? In my few trips to Rajasthan I’ve not had the good fortune of seeing these in-situ .. being worn by the Bishnoi women. … Continue reading
Animal Love
We all love our animals! The Qashqai weaver put hers in her rug while I had a few sweet moments with a sheep & a goat in my lap! See … Continue reading
Spinning Yarn
Seen in the Himalayas….an activity, a skill, a lifestyle …. People STILL live in this charming way! All through our afternoon conversation in which our minds and voices engaged, their … Continue reading
A Himalayan Monk’s Mask for Royal Rituals
The masked dances of Himalayan Buddhist monks are fascinating and since 2011, I’ve watched them on four different occasions in various monasteries (Kalimpong, Matho, Stok, Jokhang-Leh ). The Chamms … Continue reading
Lion of Punjab – Sher-e-Punjab
Punjab – the land that has been facing invasions for centuries – values bravery and courage. And the lion offers an excellent metaphor for these values. Maharana Ranjit Singh was … Continue reading
All Creatures Great & Small
The writings of explorer-authors form a bridge between our urban world and the world of nomads and other rural communities who live by different life models. Reading about those … Continue reading
The Life of an Old Thangka
Thangkas that were once in active use for worship hung in high places inside monasteries. They are exposed to butter-lamp vapors over decades.The inside of a monastery is filled with … Continue reading
Enjoying WOVENSOULS?
If you have been enjoying WOVENSOULS could you please take a moment to rate the effort on Trustpilot? here: https://www.trustpilot.com/evaluate/www.wovensouls.com It will be a huge help for my small gallery! … Continue reading
Rich Motifs Rich Palette
The well-balanced aesthetics of the motif, combined with the color combination they have been rendered in, further combined with the range they are seen in in any given Arkilla make … Continue reading
Games of Chance – Ganjifa
A note on the beauty of antique Mysore Ganjifa Cards
The Girl with the Dragon
Can you spot her? . . . . . Isn’t she lovely? See more of this gorgeous not-for-sale antique dragon sumac rug here on WOVENSOULS – asset 1379. *** jm … Continue reading
No Shoes Indoors
The origins of this gently-but-strictly enforced rule in all traditional Asian homes might be many. But I think the real reason is the art that is displayed on the floor…. … Continue reading
One Old Lady meets Another
The paint has worn out. And there are plenty of nicks on the woodwork, each telling an unforgetable tale. Layers of old paint shed – layers of fresh paint applied … Continue reading
The Art of Marble Jalis
Seen at the magnificent Mumbai Airport Museum. Cannot get enough of this airport! jm April 2019
Long Live the Spirit of Mumbai!
Pydhonie, Mumbai, April 16, 2019. It is in the midst of the wholesale markets for everything. It is in this area that Dhirubhai Ambani began as a yarn trader. Millions … Continue reading
