Indian Artist Transforms Late Father’s Passport into Artwork

Indian artist and painter Radhika Chetia transformed her late father’s passport, which she kept for years after his death, into an artwork that recalls memories of him and expresses feelings of loss, through 16 paintings she created on its pages. The details of the paintings were inspired by traditional Indian miniature art, in an artistic project that combines personal memories with the expression of grief.

In the same context, the website "My Modern Met," specializing in arts and visual culture, reported on Wednesday that the project was titled "P455P0RT" and included drawings executed by the artist using gouache colors. She drew inspiration for its themes from memories of her father, songs, quotes, and amusing incidents, while keeping the original stamps, visas, and marks in the passport and integrating them into the artistic compositions.

For her part, Chetia noted that the passport remained preserved among her father's belongings after his death due to its emotional value, but looking at it evoked feelings of sadness in her. She explained that her father had dreamed of traveling with her mother after retirement, but was unable to achieve this, which led her to start painting on unused pages without prior planning.

She added that the project evolved into something like an artistic diary combining memories, personal details, and stages of coping with grief. Chetia drew inspiration for her style from Mughal and Pahari miniature art, known for its detailed precision, floral decorations, and depiction of animals, and she ensured that the original stamps and visas remained part of the paintings.

She pointed out that sharing the project with the public allowed her to connect with people who keep belongings of their deceased loved ones and find in them a means to recall memories and express feelings of loss. The project highlights the ability of art to give new life to personal belongings, transforming them into a means of preserving memories and expressing human experiences.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)