Tree of Life -Details

At an early stage of the Visvakarma commissions, the Tree of Life, historically renowned for its hand painted and resist-dyed qualities over preceding centuries, was transformed into a contemporary textile using block prints. Here, repeating blocks of the featured motifs were the primary compositional devices, ingeniously used, to simulate a large-scale flowering tree, creating an overall, hand-drawn quality. A specially handwoven textile, 90 inches in width, provided the base. A use of silk in place of the conventional cotton, was a common practice through the commissions, and lent them a sheen and quality which was considered relevant for their intended use as art works in luxury interiors. These experiments seeded the start of a new, commercially viable direction for the Tree of Life and related themes, which has continued into the present.

The tree depicted in the panel is classical in its design, with slender trunks and branches that rise from a mound of water, symbolising aquatic life depicted with the lotus, fish, and turtle. The tree is filled with a profusion of blooms, with hidden squirrels among the foliage. The monkeys resting on the branches, rendered in blue, add a playful element to the scene. Overall, the piece creates a sense of natural beauty and serenity, capturing the essence of the Tree of Life.