“If there’s a voice inside you, that says don’t paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced…”    – Vincent Van Gogh

      ‘The Certain Vase’

The watercolor painting above is of a real life vase which was lying in my house since years. This had been gifted to my father on his accomplishment at his place of work. The woman in red is depicted carrying pitchers of water. This seems like her usual task but she carries on with dignity. No face, just the depiction of it, surrealistic silence that is. I must say.

I chose watercolors here, because I wanted to bring out the dripping effects with flow and clarity that the contents are simply water. This is unusual but the effect lasts. It’s just a still-life re-modeling. But I have been fascinated by this lady on the vase.

Thousands of women in rural parts of India, still have to walk miles just to fetch water for drinking purpose or household chores. This is a tedious task and it must be carried out daily because, water is truly the elixir of life. Being raised in cities, I am unaware of the trials and tribulations but certainly I do understand the hassles.

During my initial days in Mumbai, I have experienced water shortage a lot. People used to stand queues before they thought of anything else that needed their attention. And in that queue, nobody was of higher or of smaller stature. We all needed that water. Now, after all these years, problem of water shortage in Mumbai, is resolved mostly. I can say that proudly.

-PoddarProject