My family came to the United States from India many years ago. My work reflects
my cultural background and knowledge of India as I have experienced it through
journeys there and through stories told by my parents. Certain objects and
images are persistent and are emblematic or evocative of many things, from mundane
to sublime. Some of these objects are plants such as datura and images of favorite
deities such as Ganesha and Lakshmi. Uprooted people often experience a longing for
things that remind them of their former home. This sort of nostalgia
or yearning
for familiar things, especially food, has been a part of my family’s experience
for as long as I can remember.
My parents grow exotic vegetables with names I do not even know
in English.
This amuses and amazes me. I believe that the dialog
about culture and nationality
is vital and that the visual arts are an important forum for communication of the
subtleties and variations
of individual viewpoints. I also draw inspiration from
the natural world, especially the world right outside my window. I have favorite
flowers in my garden such as four o’clocks and nasturtiums that appear in several
of my prints. I have worked in the printmaking medium for over thirty-five years
and specialize in color intaglio printmaking. I
am still besotted with the quality
of color and surface that is possible with this medium. Recently, I have become
very interested in books as an art form. This medium allows exploration and
focus on themes such
as the effects of climate change on flora and fauna. Humanist
and feminist issues are of great interest to me and I am currently planning books
with these concerns.