Panel with Mughal Flowers -Installation

The motifs of 108 different flowering plants seen here were originally hand drawn by the artist Amrut Patel, translated into handmade wooden blocks reportedly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and hand printed in Mumbai. The nature of these collaborations reflects in many textiles for Visvakarma, which brought complementary skills together on one hand, and on the other, unexpected elements towards surprisingly new results. Patel created this repertory by extensively studying Rajasthani and Mughal miniatures. Aside from the diversity of the motifs, the textile stands out for its use of multiple colours within small areas. These became elements of a small intervention in silk sarees for the exhibitions as well.

Amrut Patel studied Rajasthani and Ustad Mansur's Mughal miniature paintings in order to create the Mughal follower panel. The different flowering plants depicted in the panel were originally hand-drawn, and the wooden blocks were carved in Rajasthan and Gujarat. A total of 108 different multicoloured blocks were developed and hand-printed in Mumbai. The blocks are spaced regularly in a manner reminiscent of Mughal art and are placed on a natural silk ground that is subtly printed with a wave pattern. This panel showcases the artist’s skill and attention to detail in creating a contemporary interpretation of traditional art.