Haveli:
The Painted Walls of Shekhawati
Northern Rajasthan
Shiv Shekhawaiti - Jhunjunu, Rajhasthan
Working alongside a local master Makan Ji, I learnt the art of Haveli Painting , depicting a mix of religious, mythological and historical themes to adorn the walls.
The Shekhawati region in Northern Rajasthan is famous for its frescoes and painted haveli dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a real honour to take part in preserving cultural heritage in India.
During 6 months of painting the guests room in the Shiv Shekhawati Hotel we drank chai, smoked bidi’s and I learnt to speak Hindi. I struggled to understand most times but learnt to speak.
It’s a pity that I don’t have any photos of the the ‘throw-together’ scaffolding we perched on to paint the ceiling (But if you’ve been to India, you’ll know!)
None of this would have have happened had my sister and I had not shared the first of our many long train journeys throughout India, with the family from the Shiv Shehawait Hotel.
My love affair with India then began as I travelled back and forth from London for a period of 10 years to submerged in ther culture to which I feel I have only scratched the surface of.
My art practice was heavily influenced by India at that time, fusing tradition with contemprary and accumilating in my first debut solo show at Casa on Brick Lane, London. Following this, a show at the Nehru Centre in Mayfair, upon invite from the High Commission of india.
