‘Nazariya’ is part of the ‘Protect Your Spirit’ a themed group show curated by NorBlackNorWhite as part of the India Art Fair Young Collector’s Programme and India Art Fair 2024.

The essence of this series, "Nazariya – Safeguarding Spirit," draws inspiration from the practice of using Nazar Battus, also known as amulets, to ward off the malevolent gaze, a practice prevalent in the Indian Subcontinent. The colloquial nature of nostalgic phrases amuses me and find presence in my work. Nazariya consists of three pieces - Nazar-navaaz, Chashm-e-bad-duur, and Raahat-e-ruuh. They use the structure of traditional nazar battu masks, infused with contemporary hand-painted Urdu lettering and a palette inspired by various Indian traditional craft forms. Each telling a story of its own.

Each amulet/mask, sourced from costume shops in old neighbourhoods in Bombay, is repurposed and transformed with layers of Gesso and Acrylic paint on its Papermache surface and finished with a matte varnish.

Nazar-navaaz | नज़र-नवाज़ | نظَر نَواز | pleasing to the eye - 13inch Height  x 11.5inch Width x 7.5inch Depth - Acrylic on Found Paper Mache mask layered with Gesso and finished with a matte varnish.

Chashm-e-bad-duur | चश्म-ए-बद-दूर | چشم بَدْ دور | may God preserve you from evil eye - 13inch Height  x 11.5inch Width x 7.5inch Depth - Acrylic on Found Paper Mache mask layered with Gesso and finished with a matte varnish.

Raahat-e-ruuh | राहत-ए-रूह | راحت روح | comfort of soul, peace of life - 12inch Height  x 10inch Width x 8inch Depth - Acrylic on Found Paper Mache mask layered with Gesso and finished with a matte varnish.