Tropical Trail 2 Painting

Title: Tropical Trail 2 Size: 61 x 61 x 3.8 cm | 24 x 24 x 1.5 in Medium: Acrylic / mixed media on canvas Varnish: Varnished to protect its surface from dust and UV light. Frame: Unframed, ready to hang, sides are painted Signature: Front and back, also signed Certificate of Authenticity Artwork will be shipped in a flat box. _______________________________________________ नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सत: | उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभि: || nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ ubhayorapi dṛiṣhṭo ’nta stvanayos tattva-darśhibhiḥ Of the transient there is no endurance, and of the eternal there is no cessation. This has verily been observed by the seers of the truth, after studying the nature of both. The above quote from the Bhagavat Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 16) captures the essence of life, and of eternity. While it captures the idea that life is fleeting, it also simultaneously says that life is everlasting: when one form of life disappears, another takes its place, and the cycle of life continues. Unending, eternal, everlasting, while being fleeting, transient, and ephemeral at the same time. When one life form ends, another is ready to take its place. Life goes on. Any walk around the city of Singapore shows this power of life and death in a glorious fashion in the tropical rainforest that weaves through the city. Lush green trees do not live in isolation. They have for company ferns, orchids, lichens and moss growing on top of them, covering them from top to bottom. These ferns, then give life support to seeds that fall from the original tree, and as the original tree falls off the grid, the new tree growing in the fern bush is strong enough to take its place: the eternal cycle. The presence of moss, lichen and orchids adds to this riot of colors and textures. Shades of greens and browns, are interrupted by the splash of red, purple, blue, orange, and virtually any color imaginable. There are parts that are as smooth as marble, and some that put the ragged edges of mountains to shame. That is the microcosm of life, and the inspiration of my work. In my paintings I try to capture this joie de vivre. The burst of color, of texture, of growth and decay, of life and death, of happiness and sorrow, all independent of each other, but all a part of a larger reality. Separate and together. All at the same time.