Mother
Mukti Singh Thapa, 2014
Mineral colour
110 × 60 cm

© Mukti Singh Thapa

This artwork follows the traditional, Nepalese style of devotional Buddhist painting – the paubha style. Contrary to the traditional content of paubha paintings, here the theme is set in contemporary times. Drawing on elements of formal, traditional iconography, this artwork depicts maternal roles and responsibilities, the credit and blame society apportions to the mother for the actions of her children. The painting is set between the ever-watching sun and the moon located in the upper two corners, and the process of birth, as iconographically symbolised by the inverted triangle. The triangle is dissected into five, differently coloured concentric circles each of which represent the five elements of the universe. The artist believes that the character we develop later in life is influenced by the most dominant of these elements at the time of our birth. Thus, the lower part of the painting shows different types of heads symbolizing different characters and features of people born of the same mother. The narration is set in a beautiful composition, complimented by decorative elements typically used in traditional paintings to create a balance between content and unusual, personal aesthetic choices.