War and Peace

I wanted to dedicate this painting to the unique and unpredictable times we live in. We stand at a crucial juncture, and every decision we make—rooted in our intentions, thoughts, and actions—echoes through the astral realm. If we are indeed living in a matrix, what parameters define the scope of our consciousness? Do we choose peace or violence? This artwork explores the interplay between India and China, symbolized by Gandhi and Mao, whom I see as the foundational figures of these two nations. Tibet, nestled between these countries, rightfully belongs to Lord Buddha, who watches from above, beyond the Himalayan peaks. India sends out a celebratory wedding party, while China advances with army tanks. Who will prevail, and how will victory be achieved? This narrative is encapsulated within a yantra, a flattened mathematical representation of the building blocks of life. The colors used are inspired by those I have seen in Buddhist monasteries around the world.

Additional notes: Using Michangelo's 'Creation of Adam' painting as a metaphorical anchor, Ketna Patel has composed a contemporary re-interpretation between God and mankind.  Under the invisible but ever watchful eye of the Divine (represented here by Lord Buddha), the composition is showing two protagonists of modern Asia in symbolic positions. India is represented by a bare chested Mahatma Gandhi, who is vulnerable in his defencelessness as he is lying down on his back.  China, on the other hand (represented by Mao) is in a threatening standing position, therefore having the upper hand.  India is (naiively?) sending out celebrationary musical parties on horseback.  China, on the other hand has its army tanks on standby.  How is one to interpret the outcome of this snapshot? Could this moment be the creation of war, or would it indeed be the creation of peace?  We do not know what the future holds. 

Background:  For the longest time, this region has been claimed by the spiritual and the politicized.  It is a place of worship, but unfortunately also one of exploitation.

Inspired by many travels in the Himalayas, Ketna was in particular very moved by Dharamshala, a town in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the biggest Tibetan towns in India, and has become the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.  From here, they hold daily vigil; the town is full of billboards and murmurings of political activism.  The Dalai Lama has continually expressed his gratitude to India for their care and support.  After her long stay in this area, Ketna has composed several paintings on this subject.

As a homage to the sacrifice and turbulent history of Tibet, this painting has been rendered using the dominant palette of red and saffron.  These also hark to the beautiful Thangka paintings of Tibet, which have inspired the artist tremendously. Compositionally, The Sun's life giving energy, emanating from Lord Buddha's holy halo is trickling into the bottom half of the composition, culminating in a mountain of orange red.  This symbolizes the sacrifices of the Tibetan people in exchange for the considerable amount of extracted minerals.  Red, yellow and saffron are also the colour of Tibetan robes.

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.