paintings

Love and kindness swirl with the prevailing winds of graceful Radha, the Hindu Mother Goddess and consort of God Krishna. Prominently standing out from the turquoise-blue sky and floral backdrop, Radha blissfully celebrates her role as chief consort of the Gopies together her closest friends, the Ashtasakhis. Reinterpreting the iconic Madhubani style of painting endemic to the region of Bihar, Indian artist Bharti Dayal paints 'Radha with Gopies' to consciously tell the story of her culture's origins, assigning each detail its own intellectual meaning. Internationally recognized for her resurrection of the Madhubani style which had previously suffered poor quality and a lack of originality, Dayal works to perpetuate classic themes beyond the scope of mere folk art while avoiding the mundane nature of contemporary recreations.

"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.

This appealing painting is the original work of Renu Jaiswal in India. She works in watercolours on paper to paint the cheerful floral composition

India's acclaimed Bharti Dayal illustrates her own interpretation of the enchantment between Hinduism's God and Goddess of love in her painting 'Soulmate - Radha Krishna'. Kirshna and Radha come together under the blue skies of the heavens, with Radha attracting the heart of Radha. Enchanting the Supreme God himself, Rahda reaches the highest level of esteem within Hindu mythology, presiding as Goddess of All. Painted with his arm around Radha while possessing a flute, Krishna appears enamored, young and finely decorated with peacock feathers and floral bands that symbolize the early years of his divine descent from Vishnu. Radha, flanked by Krishna's blue tapestry, exercises her supreme powers of enchantment to merge her own red drapery to create a collective purple, seen below her chin, symbolizing their mutual synthesis into Radha-Krishna.

"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.

A master of reverse painting on glass, artisan Flora Polo draws on decades of experience to create this original wall mirror in her workshop in Peru, merging a frame, glass, paint and patience to portray the warmth of her country. Peru's summery stylistic origins lie in the fusion of local indigenous and southern European cultures, especially visible in this wall mirror, which incorporates reverse painting on glass, a technique brought from Europe, with floral styles typical of local Peruvian art, crowned by golden borders and a rich turquoise hue nostalgic of the warm Mediterranean climate.

A playful, excited cat makes a vibrant and fun addition to any home, handcrafted from copal wood and maguey plant fibers in the style of traditional alebrijes. Mexican couple Zeny and Reyna proudly paint this sculpture by hand, drawing inspiration from their cultural roots to cover the cat in bright floral motifs against a teal body. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Inspired by the exquisite embroidered flowers adorning Oaxaca's traditional textiles, Mexican artisans Pablo and Lucy Mendez create a gorgeous copal wood ornament that captures the region's culture and festive aura in one colourful sphere. This time, the team uses a palette of turquoise and black hues to hand-paint each floral detail, allowing for a refreshing vibe. As the final touch, a lovely tassel and beads dance at the bottom of the design.