Inspiration/Description

​​This display is the biggest portion of my senior art portfolio. A sensory trip that acts as a teleporter for the audience to experience India through my eyes. This is not made to give the audience an exact copy of a house in India or a room that can be found in any house. This is my interpretation of India as it was in my childhood and influenced by the various cultures and people that I have been exposed to.

I took traditional ideas and objects and created them using modern medium and techniques. For example, in northern India embroidery is a very big form of craft and art. It is still done the traditional way using needle and thread on a frame. Some crafters use rhinestones and mirrors to make the embroidery unique. The center table of this room is covered with a cloth that has embroidery designs on it. I did not use a needle or thread in any part of the design, instead I used glue and fabric paints. I glued down fabric cut shapes and beaded strings to create patterns that are similar in Indian embroidery.

Everything in this display is handmade. The ribbons were not bought as they are, all of the beads were glued down on the ribbons before being put up. The flowers are all handmade from felt and are given the shape and form of marigolds.

I included some images in this room that go along with the bigger theme of "experiencing India." The two portraits on the wall give a glimpse at northern apparel. The mixed media paintings on the other two walls are my way of trying express emotions and feelings that someone could feel when they are in this room or go to north India. In the very center of the back wall is a collage titled "A Tribute to Sanjhi Devi." I made this tribute during the change of planting season in India when others in India would be making their own versions of Sanjhi Devi. This is a dying form art that I have a high appreciation for. Mainly it is done in the northern states of India now the main Art Institutions of India are trying to educate the younger generations about Sanjhi so that the tradition can still survive.

The thing that kept all of these small parts that make up this room without loosing the main impact was giving the entire room a theme. The theme that I followed was Diwali also known as the Vestival of Lights. This holiday is celebrated all over India and is a very huge holiday. It is celebrated in six different religions and in multiple countries across the world like Japan, Singapore, Australia, UK, and many other countries. All of the religions have their own reason and source of celebrating this holiday but the appreciation for sweets, lights, sounds, decoration, worship, and family time is the same no matter where you go. My finishing touch was to include a lantern in this room which hangs right above the center table.

The center table could be seen as an alter to some as it is in a way an alter that celebrates multiple things - Diwali, end of college, graduation or the start of my career life, or just in general celebrating the experiences that my audience is going to go through when they walk in this room.