Lisa Ray Instagram – The Nurturer From #InSearchoftheDevi curated by @sripeepul for @theupsidespace Purna Janam by Anwar Chitrakar In Purna Janam, Anwar Chitrakkar uses the metaphor of a new mother with her baby to evoke the goddess to use her nurturing strength to heal the environmental devastation in the world. The newborn baby is a new planet, and the auras around the mother Goddess are full of forests and trees to renew and revitalize the ravaged earth. The painting has a vivid border that draws from the most traditional elements of Patachitra folk art, the indigenous folk playing their musical instruments, dancing and at one with nature and at the bottom, the wonderful fish wedding, with the bride andgroom fish being carried on a palkhi. Master Artist Anwar Chitrakar grew up in Bengal, learning to paint the long scrolls that tell stories of legends, news and mythology, always accompanied by song. These are Pattachitras (pictures painted on cloth). His elders were almost wandering minstrels as they went from village to village singing their tales as they rolled out scrolls that were over 15ft long, painted on home made canvas and backed with old saris to keep them strong. Also very popular was the Kalighat style of caricature portraits, once a rage in 19th century British India. Anwar has very quickly added his own lens to the traditional artform, and his work has a sophistication and a contemporary take has been his hallmark. Note: Please turn sound on to view this work.