Set in ethereal Kashmir, this artwork is a love letter to the mystical city of Srinagar and a valley renowned not only for its beauty, but the emotion it arouses in artists, poets and travellers alike.
Brilliant, bold brushstrokes of colour highlight the overwhelming joy I felt when conceptualising this artwork, a medley of three photos taken at different locations in the valley.
Captured at sunset, the central image focuses on a boatman and his shikara, the traditional Kashmiri houseboat. The boatman appears to be deep in thought, perhaps contemplating his life, dreams or simply the splendour of his surroundings. The pristine mirror-like surface of the Dal Lake glistens brilliantly under the rays of the sun, ensuring the valley is reflected in all its breath-taking glory.
The artwork is reminiscent of a simpler time, when people lived in harmony with nature, peacefully rocking in their houseboats, oblivious to the widening ripples of water signifying a region cradled in conflict.
