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Mata Dharat Mahat

Rs. 140,000
Rs. 140,000
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Details

Artform

Sikh Miniature

Artist

Avtar Singh

Dimensions

16 x 12 In.

Medium

Gouache on Wasli

Framing

Unframed

Learn More

The Painting

This Sikh miniature painting, hand-painted by Avtar Singh, depicts a visual representation of Guru Nanak’s words written in Jap Ji Sahib ``Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” which means ‘Air is our Teacher, Water is our Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of All’. Here the artist painted a ‘phantasmagoric’ (a sequence of real or imagery) scene that portrays Mother Earth being poisoned by her children. The artist paints a communal space with various religious sites in the background with a sleuth of smoke engulfing the sky which is traced back to the foreground where a farmer, on the left, is shown burning land which is portrayed as a flock of sparrows who are sitting on top of their eggs in order to protect them. Towards the right Guru Nanak is shown who is the embodiment of the jap- “Mata Dharat Mahat '' and how we need to live in harmony with Earth as she is the source through which mankind thrives. The artist has used gouache, an opaque watercolor medium, on Wasli, which is a traditional handmade sheet used for painting miniatures. It is made using sheets of paper and cooking flour (as gum).

The Artform

Sikh miniature painting tradition flourished in Punjab Hills around the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the Sikh religion is over 500 years old, it was during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) that the miniature school came into its own with many Pahari artists migrating to the court of Ranjit Singh in the 19th century, and their work doing the rounds in Amritsar, Lahore and Patiala, giving rise to this school of painting, which is influenced by Mughal and Pahari miniature tradition. Sikh miniatures are simplistic and formalist and often portray the lives and exploits of the Sikh Gurus.

The Artist

Born in 1982, Avtar Singh is a Sikh miniature artist based in Punjab. He has an M.F.A from Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab. He works on different mediums such as traditional miniature painting, wash technique, ink on paper, and watercolor on paper. His works are based on spiritualism derived from the teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru. He also delves into the changing socio-political and environmental conditions in Punjab using humans, birds, animals, and drugs in the contemporary age. His works have been shown in several group exhibitions such as ‘Panjab Kala Bhavan’, Chandigarh, 2018-19; at ‘Jawahar Kala Kendra’, Jaipur; at ‘Panjabi University’, Patiala, and ‘Panjab University’, Chandigarh; as well as solo show in ‘Panjabi University’, Patiala. He has won a silver medal in the ‘Kalavart Nyas Award’, Ujjain for his miniature painting. His works have been acquired by ‘National Gallery’, Amritsar, and selected for the ‘Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi Annual Show 2018 & 2022.

Provenance

Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team.

Customizations

Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team.

Returns and refunds

Returns are not applicable on made-to-order products. We guarantee a replacement of your product in case of any damages.

Shipping and Delivery

For artworks that are made to order, the time to prepare each piece differs. Our team will inform you about the preparation time. You will receive updates on the behind-the-scenes prep every 4-5 days- we want you to be a part of the creation process. A ready item will be dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order. The item will be delivered 7-10 days after the product is dispatched. The artwork price is exclusive of shipping charges and insurance. Shipping charges will differ depending on the order size, weight and delivery location. You will be able to calculate shipping charges at checkout. The artwork price is inclusive of 12% GST In the event that the product is rejected by our quality check team, you will be informed about the change of delivery date.

Other details

The price you see is for an unframed painting. If you want us to custom frame the artwork, please drop us a message. We highly encourage this, framing is an art by itself :) The artwork you will receive is as close to the original artwork as possible but as with all things handmade, there may be minute differences in color and motifs, truly rendering each artwork one of a kind. Trust the process!

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