WOOD AND LINOLEUM CUT PRINTING
WOOD CUT PRINTING
BASED ON THE KARNATAK FOLK TALE, " THE FLOWERING TREE"
Women are suppressed when they try to embrace their bodies and sexuality. They are constantly denied of their own choices,. They are forced to live according to the standards set by society and are hesitant to be themselves because of the pressure society implies on them. Women from the very beginning are brainwashed to be afraid of their sexuality and to be the submissive gender. She has to give in to the desires of the male gender and females are considered to be such chaste figures that if a woman expresses her desires she is branded to be an immoral woman.
My agenda behind this artwork was to show empowerment of women who should be proud of their naked beauty and instead of constantly sexualizing her breasts and vagina , people should accept that its normal like any other body part.
My agenda behind this artwork was to show empowerment of women who should be proud of their naked beauty and instead of constantly sexualizing her breasts and vagina , people should accept that its normal like any other body part.
LINOLEUM CUT PRINTING
BASED ON THE SPIRITUAL "THIRD EYE"
Taking forward the essence of the scenario, I gave a physical body and structure to the non-tangible entity i.e. our “third eye”. It makes the story interesting and intriguing. The scenario talks about how our third eye is dormant and lost, and we humans are not aware of it’s existence. My story provides an imagined probability that must have occurred which led to the extinction of the third eye. It also throws light on the benefits of the third eye and how humans can wield it for a greater purpose. The story is a mystical and fantastical take on the mythology of gods. The gods are not portrayed in their beautiful and pure form, which is actually created by us humans. Gods had demon like faces and features and were mighty titans. The theme of metamorphosis is constant in the story, the gods having morphing features with other creatures, and also connects to the contemporary scenario. For example, the Hindus in Thailand worship the same gods as us but they have a demon or monster like body. Themes such as transformation, deception, reality and human psychology are also present in the story.
PROCESS PICTURES
After illustrating the story frames on paper, the design was traced on the linoleum sheets and carved. Special oil based inks were used to get the print on brown paper.
THE STORY
The story has been broken down into different parts in accordance to the number of illustration.
Introduction:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. Humans were in the dark as to what was ahead of them. Things were stirring up in heaven, where the gods resided. There he was, third eye, sitting under the tree of clairvoyance. He was known as the Paramhansa, fusion of human flesh and swan, the swan being the closest and rarest creature to the divine.
Popularity of third eye:
Humanity was at the verge of exultation. Something different was happening. They were more confident, full of empathy and looked beyond the obvious to seek the truth. Nothing was binary now. Third eye had freed them from the bondage of devotion, faith and dependence on the supernatural entities. It was the age of evolution.
ALL HAIL THIRD EYE!!
Conflict:
Blasphemy! Roared the other gods. Humans were rising above them, threatening their reign and existence of the gods who believed in the orthodox notion and considered their supremacy above all. “third eye is an imbecile, not worthy of being a godly titan”, they discussed. The plotted, they conspired. It was time to put an end to this desecration. Humans were now to bow in front of them.
Banishment:
A trial was held. It was appalling. Third eye’s fate now was in the hands of the other gods. Using their collective powers, they sentenced banishment to third eye. But before this, he was granted a last wish. “I want my essence to reside in humanity forever”, he said.
End:
But the other gods played a trickery. They morphed the essence of third eye into humanity but cursed it to be dormant. In the modern era, with no one to propagate and access the essence of third eye, it remains hidden inside us, waiting to be discovered and embraced.
FINAL PRINTS
