Last year, we visited the Belur temples in Karnataka, and I was completely drawn into the world of soapstone sculptures. The level of detail, the fluidity of form and the life captured in stone felt almost unreal.
This is my study of one of the shilabalikes - a graceful dancer caught in a quiet, intimate moment, looking at herself in a mirror. Time has not spared her entirely. The delicate, free-hanging necklace is broken, and parts of her legs are damaged. And yet, her presence remains powerful. If anything, the imperfections add character, reminding us of the centuries she has lived through.
What continues to amaze me is that this entire figure including the jewelry was carved out of a single piece of stone.
This is a charcoal drawing (18" x 24"), my attempt to capture a small glimpse of that timeless beauty.
