Title: Pehran (Overcoat)

Year: 2020

Medium: Acrylic on paper.

Size:12×12 inches

The onset of the COVID19 lockdown in Mumbai, reminded me of the prolonged lockdown in Kashmir due to the Kashmiri Conflict and the severe hardships the people had to face. In response I created this portrait of a magnificently normal Kashmiri jewelry seller, who I encountered on my trip to Kashmir a few years ago. This man’s unwavering resilience has plagued my mind till today. To shed some white light on this dire situation, I have painted this man in hues of purple (a symbol of his strength) and yellow (the joyous colors of autumn).