This is a powerful painting (presently residing in Miami, Florida) shaped by journeys—its own and those of the lives it portrays. Created over three intense days and nights, this award-winning piece from Singapore's 2002 ASEAN Art Award dives deep into Asia's complex tapestry of visible and hidden narratives. At its core, the painting intertwines the divine with the mundane, exploring the lives etched onto every hand, each line a path of memory, emotion, and fate.
Symbolic elements layer the canvas with meaning. Fish swim across the scene, representing rural migrants as "fish out of water" in sprawling cities. A young girl wears a blindfold, her innocence a nod to metropolitan exploitation, while an open book with Krishna’s feet evokes wisdom overshadowed by the allure of fame and wealth. Colors, too, tell their stories: bold reds, vibrant greens, neon blues—Asia’s palette endures, resilient through wear and tear.
Tears of Milk captures the flow of life as an endless river, with tears—whether of joy or despair—leaving invisible imprints. These are the "milk tears," the ephemeral pains and joys that fade yet shape us, subtly altering the lines on our palms and deepening our souls. This is a celebration of life’s transience, resilience, and profound interconnectedness.
Each edition is a finely crafted piece of art, individually titled, numbered, and signed by Ketna Patel. Depending on the work’s nature, it is produced either as a C-Type print on Fuji gloss paper or as a Giclée print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, both ensuring archival durability and suitability for diverse climates, including humid environments like Singapore. Prints are created at esteemed studios in London, Singapore, or New Delhi, using premium archival materials. Limited to 50 copies per size (150 total unframed), each is shipped carefully rolled in a poster tube. For a slick, glossy, contemporary look, the artwork is also offered as Acrylic or HD Metal prints, each limited to 25 per size. Acrylic prints are made on 5mm thick, 70% recycled glossy acrylic with a premium foil backing that amplifies colour richness and depth, framed in white, black, or natural wood. HD Metal versions utilize dye sublimation on scratch-resistant, waterproof aluminium, producing vivid, sharp images suited for indoor or outdoor display with a frameless floating effect. Both formats come with prefitted hanging systems and spacers for easy installation. Each piece is made to order with a 10-day production timeframe, ensuring exclusivity and meticulous record-keeping to prevent duplication.
