Artistic expression of the Kodavas through artifacts, ritual and performance
The grant helped me to understand the ethnic culture of the Kodavas (Kodagu, Karnataka) and largely exposed me to the rural environment, paving the way to the use of natural materials, pigments, cloth for my growing practive of installation and site-specific work. I was awarded the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Award and was artist-in residence at the University of Newcastle in 1997-8.
A study of the European influence on Mughal painting and decorative art in Indian museum collections
The award helped me tremendously in completing my dissertation as part of my studies and research programme while doing my MA final in History of Art at the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. It helped me visit various museums and monuments in Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur, and Rampur, to study the original works and also obtain the photographs. It enriched my work in quality as well in the comprehensiveness of my analysis and conclusions. Some of the visuals were included for the first time ever in my report.
Ritual objects and temple accessories in Varanasi
