Silsila
Growing up in a predominantly white community, I have always yearned to have some form of connection to my culture. It started out small, wearing my mother’s gold jewelry in the form of bangles, necklaces, and earrings. Then, I learned about lippan art from my mom. Lippan art is a form of expression that originated in Gujarat, India. The tradition started with Indian women from the rural villages of Gujurat decorating their homes with intricate designs made of mud and mirrors. Mirrors, used in many Indian art pieces, are known to ward off evil spirits and bring light into homes. Not only does Lippan art have a history of spirituality, but it does have practical uses. It was an excellent insulator for village homes during summer and winter. Nowadays, lippan art is still designed and hung up in homes, but it is created on pieces of wood or canvas. Since I have always loved art, I thought creating lippan art was the perfect gateway to my culture. I started with my first piece, made in 2023 on a 6-foot-tall canvas. I got white air-dried clay and tacky glue and began rolling out the clay meticulously. I researched traditional lippan art and found the designs were similar to mendhi (henna) designs. Since I already had practice with mendhi, I incorporated a similar style into my lippan art. After much trial and error, I finally finished my first Lippan art piece and gifted it to my mom. I see lippan art as an art form that gives Indian women a voice. For centuries, women have been told that they cannot perform the same as men and that they cannot be taken seriously. But this art is a testament to the resilience of Indian women and what they can do.
Now, whenever I feel a creative block or a lack of inspiration, I can turn to the women who have been creators before me. Usually, this has been done through the form of lippan art. In 2024, I plan to create many forms of lippan art. I have started with a piece I call “Silsila.” In English, this means a continuation. I thought it was fitting as it was created on a circular 36” piece of wood that weighs over 20 pounds. The circle indicates a continuous cycle, One where generations of women had a part in continuing. I can only hope the pieces I create in the future will make the women who came before me proud.
