cross art

Originating in the Mithila region of India, Madhubani painting is a traditional style of folk art typically reserved for women. It often celebrates Hindu themes, as well as the harmony between people and nature. Working in the Madhubani style, Vidushini honors Vivah Panchami, a festival that celebrates the wedding of Rama and Sita, star-crossed lovers from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Surrounded by natural designs, Rama and Sita wear regal clothing as they join together in matrimony.

Indian artist Vidushini portrays a loving mother and joyful baby elephant strolling in the gardens using the Madhubani style of painting. Madhubani art began in the village of Maithili, of the Bihar state, originally created by women on the walls of their home. This style evolved from elaborate home decorations to becoming important aspects of festivals and eventually appealing to lovers of art both within India and internationally. The painting is signed by Vidushini, who specializes in Madhubani styles at this time and even had her artwork selected to be the cover of Delhi University's textbook, Indian History and Culture.

Mother nature begins with the tree of life in this World Peace Project painting by India's Bharti Dayal. As Mother Nature sits cross-legged, resembling a heart, she extends her limbs upwards, branching out into a full-grown tree with pink leaves and lotus flower motifs.

The artist explains that the unification of the female form and the tree suggests that femininity is in its essence peaceful. Just as Hinduism advocates the continuous growth of oneself and the pursuit of inner peace, 'Feminine Tree' depicts the figurative source of peace as the self, independent of the surrounding world.

The artist uses natural vegetable colors to depict this symbolic scene of Mother Nature existing within an empty gray domain, sprouting with vibrant pink, directing one's attention to the peaceful heights reached in the feminine universe.

Dayal carefully arranges her composition to tell the story of the tree of life, employing the classic Madhubani painting style. "Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace -- the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace – the quest of all beings," the artist explains, adding, “To achieve a state of inner peace is an inspiration for all. Through meditation, Lord Buddha attained inner peace, which inspired him to work for world peace. The end of greed, hatred and delusion is the state of Nirvana, which describes the Buddhist path and spiritual goal to mark the soteriological release from rebirth in the world.”

In this World Peace Project painting by Bharti, within a gray realm of absence, Buddha is depicted as a meditating silhouette adorned with a sacred lotus flower and turquoise. The lack of interruptions in the background highlights the sole importance of one's self in achieving nirvana, because worldly objects cloud the mind.

Bharti Dayal created this painting to celebrate the path of Nirvana in the quest for peace.