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Three Balinese women, in Bahasa tiga wanita Bali, stand side-by-side in this painting by Purwadi. Says the artist, "These three women are in preparation to go to temple." Each woman wears a traditional kebaya in tones of pink and beige. A kebaya is a form of clothing that women typically wear when they go to a temple. Purwadi paints this scene in a moody, expressionist style.

Alberto Torres portrays Mary as a young mother dressed in regal clothing that befits the queen of heaven. Stars on her gown suggest her celestial condition and 22k gold leaf shines from their halos. Torres works in the style of the Cuzco school, recreating colonial religious art found in the city's convents and monasteries. He frames the painting in hand-carved cedar embellished with bronze leaf.

Titled "Madona con el Niño" in Spanish.

With a defiant look in her eyes, a nude woman crouches, gazing at something unseen. Balinese artist Aricadia paints the nude in his characteristic style, with bold splashes of primary colors filling the canvas. "The world is like a theatre," says Aricadia. "Many roles and masks we have been through and wear. How far we can go is dependent on how we play along."

Sometimes called Chintamani, Hindu god Ganesha is the subject of Sunil Jaiswals's truly alluring warm-hued work. The Indian artisan renders the elephant-headed deity in traditional dress with bright crimson and pale orange colours.

Sharp and bold figures merge in a magnificent composition by Bali's Kasiyanto. Exuding strength and courage, this acrylic painting inspired by the region's classic arts aims to send a profound message: "Most humans wear masks to cover their shortcomings even though God created humans as the best creatures above other creatures," as the artist says.

The composition arrives signed and unstretched.

When Mary ascends to Heaven she is crowned by Jesus and God. Her halo features 12 stars in this painting by Fernando Sayan Polo. He is inspired by the religious art of Cuzco to create this admirable replica with oils and bronze leaf applications. In this bright composition, Mary stands on a crescent moon escorted by a cherub. Wrapped in a cloak of stars, she is also welcomed by the Holy Spirit.

Titled "Coronación de la Virgen" in Spanish.

colourful feathers adorn this gorgeous Gond painting by Vidushini in honour of mothers and their unconditional love. Drawing inspiration from nature, the Indian artist uses acrylic on handmade paper to depict little chicks asking their mother for food, a scene that can be found in several family portraits around the world.

Devendra Kumar Jha is a master of Madhubani art and often depicts the captivating tales of Hindu mythology in his paintings. In this exceptional scene crafted with natural dyes on handmade paper he portrays the wedding between the goddess Sita and Ram, the avatar of the god Vishnu, who are the protagonists of the epic Ramayana. They wear vibrant attire and impressive jewellery while tenderly looking into each other’s eyes in this colourful artwork filled with cultural significance.

Wearing scarlet silks, a rare white elephant is an imposing image. Gold rings adorn his tusks and his ankles are encircled with bracelets. Pale skin takes on a golden glow as Parinya Nanjai paints a beautiful image symbolic of power in Thailand. The signed work is framed in rain tree wood, bamboo and rattan.

"My definition of world peace is the desire of every human being who decides and chooses to be at peace in their own way. If humans realize we can all choose to make peace by asking God to give us a heart that is peaceful and calm, then there will be no war. My hope for world peace is that all beings can individually create something good and respect each other, and then peace will be established," says Ida Ratna Ningrum.

The artist advocates for harmony and goodwill with her daydream-like painting "Pray for Peace." With idyllic realism, Ida creates a desert landscape symbolic of societal conflicts and scarcity, dominated by a prayerful young woman in a pink dress.

The artist explains that the cat and white rabbit symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, respectively, as they accompany the girl in her quest for peace. Circling above, white doves soar freely, symbolizing the release of a new period of peace under a pure blue sky. Thriving around the young woman, cacti, prickly pears and aloe represent the protection provided by mother nature, even in times of friction. An encouraging reminder of human resilience, the painting calls for a new peaceful era on planet Earth.

"Peace is the desire of every human being around the world," says the artist. "Prayer is a method of expression from a person to God and the universe. A sad girl sees a beautiful world without any feelings of peace, as if there is always war. She prays to God that the world will always be at peace without any war. If the world is free from war, the world will be peaceful, serene, and prosperous."