Kumartuli is the iconic artistic neighborhood in Kolkata, close to both my parents’ ancestral homes, where clay sculptors make the Goddess Durga statues with their hands each year for Durga Pujo, a beloved Hindu festival, recently recognized as a UNESCO heritage event. The divine feminine is invoked through red clay, the magic of the artisan’s hands and skill and decorated with gold and splendid saris for five days of celebration, followed by immersion in the Ganga River, back to water and the elements.
30×36 acrylic and ink
Kumartuli is the iconic artistic neighborhood in Kolkata, close to both my parents’ ancestral homes, where clay sculptors make the Goddess Durga statues with their hands each year for Durga Pujo, a beloved Hindu festival, recently recognized as a UNESCO heritage event. The divine feminine is invoked through red clay, the magic of the artisan’s hands and skill and decorated with gold and splendid saris for five days of celebration, followed by immersion in the Ganga River, back to water and the elements.
30×36 acrylic and ink
