Trees of Dehli

Kate moved to Delhi in 2017 where she studied Indian miniature art with masters in Delhi and Jaipur. Using the Indian miniature art squirrel brush, and with the help of  Pradip Krishen’s book ‘The Trees of Delhi,’ she found some characters to draw on banana leaf paper. These were exhibited in a group show ‘A journey of Light.’ Prithi Fine Art and culture, New Delhi. 

When lockdown happened in UK, my flight back to Delhi was cancelled, painting kept me meditative and present. “Dreaming of Sundar Times” sundar is Hindi for beautiful.

I imagined walking through empty streets in Old Delhi to the Spice market. Pigeons and kites fly from the rooftops and I thought of the birds looking down on this lockdown city. No pollution, and nature  blooming, under crystal clear skies. I thought of my journeys over the Yamuna River to B.I Rajput in Shahdara to learn miniature art. The tree is from IIC garden, there is almost the form of a female figure stretching up towards the sky (mother earth). Its branches merge into the streets. The streets are mapped in the old map style. Through the branches you see into the Sunder nursery garden. My favourite garden to visit for reflection and study of the trees.

Below the tree the pink swirling clouds – (Corona virus) blend into the Indian miniature style of depicting clouds and storms.

Shielded by a tree we glimpse people from buildings banging pots to send out the plague. 

The snake entwined in tree references rebirth and a snake charmer plays in connection with environment. In the distance some of desolate migrant workers are walking home.