Tree of Life -Installation

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 of Life has long been a popular subject in art, with many artists throughout history creating beautiful and intricate works depicting the tree in various forms. However, in the early stages of the Visvakarma commissions, historically renowned for its hand-painted and resist-dyed qualities over preceding centuries, the Tree of Life was transformed into a contemporary textile using block prints and synthetic dyes. The use of chemical resists allowed for the reproduction of the intricate detailing that is characteristic of the historic work. Repeating blocks of the featured motifs were used to create the illusion of a large-scale flowering tree, giving the piece a hand-drawn quality. The textile was made using a specially handwoven base of silk 90 inches wide, adding a sheen and quality that was considered suitable for its intended use as a luxury interior artwork. These experiments marked the beginning of a new, commercially viable direction for the Tree of Life and related themes, which continues to this day.