peace symbol

Mother nature begins with the tree of life in this World Peace Project painting by India's Bharti Dayal. As Mother Nature sits cross-legged, resembling a heart, she extends her limbs upwards, branching out into a full-grown tree with pink leaves and lotus flower motifs.

The artist explains that the unification of the female form and the tree suggests that femininity is in its essence peaceful. Just as Hinduism advocates the continuous growth of oneself and the pursuit of inner peace, 'Feminine Tree' depicts the figurative source of peace as the self, independent of the surrounding world.

The artist uses natural vegetable colours to depict this symbolic scene of Mother Nature existing within an empty gray domain, sprouting with vibrant pink, directing one's attention to the peaceful heights reached in the feminine universe.

Dayal carefully arranges her composition to tell the story of the tree of life, employing the classic Madhubani painting style. "Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace -- the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

Lord Ganesha welcomes his mother Parvati as she arrives mounted on her dutiful wild cat under the heat of the afternoon sun. Parvati, worshipped as the supreme deity of Shaktism, enters the scene brandishing a trident to symbolize her divine power over all beings and opposing deities. Just as Parvati appears with her wild cat mount, Ganesha is accompanied by his personal mouse, both eager for his attention. Holding out a divine lotus flower to his mother as a symbol of his very creation, Ganesha praises his mother for her infusion of life. India's Bharti Dayal paints 'Parvati Ganesha Saga' in naturally-dyed acrylic characterised by warm beige and royal turquoise hues. This painting provides a lovely representation of Hinduism's beloved Mother Goddess Parvati and God of Wisdom Ganesha who join all living beings in the mundane and spiritual.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

Working in soft, neutral tones, Sunil Jaiswal conveys the sensations of peace invoked by Krishna's dulcet flute. A peacock, symbol of India, listens enthralled; the bird also represents this beloved Hindu deity. A dove joins them with a message of peace.