Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 57

that is something you will find in my work; how stunning everyday scenes can be. When I paint those moments it just moves me and I think you can link that to most faiths. It can be appreciated without getting into the different religious aspects."
In this sense, Pavani's work does transcend these kinds of divisions: her paintings are of people living their lives, nothing more nothing less, but that can be inspirational to everybody. Her request is equally simple to each person that sees her work: "Whatever religion or walk of life you have been born into, if you can take something away with you from my paintings, I've done my job."
Judging from the positive reactions I saw at the gallery that day, I think she can return to San Francisco a happy girl, Indian or otherwise!
Rebecca Hoh, editorial assistant at Jain Spirit, met and spoke with Pavani Kaushik at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Institute of Indian Art and Culture, 4a Castletown Road, London W14 9HE.
To find out more about the gallery telephone Abi Isherwood on
020 7381 3086
email: abi@bhavan.net
To see more of Pavani's work visit www.pavaniart.com
The artist with Shanti Panchal and Mr. Nandkumar
ART & LITERATURE | 55
FLOWER MARKET GOSSIP
"This one is a flower market. These are garlands at the back. Garlands are used for many things, for placing on shrines in temples, weddings generally flowers are all over the place! Some are roses, some are marigolds, and the white ones are all jasmine. Just the smell of a flower market is incredible. It's all out in the open mixed with all the diesel fumes and petrol and it still smells wonderful!"
EVENING BLOSSOM
"This one also has a different mood
to the others in the series. In the evening they have wooden poles up with hanging kerosene lanterns. Sometimes people prefer to buy the flowers in the evenings as the weather is cooler, so they are fresh for their shrines at home in the morning."
GOING HOME
"I love this scene. In Karnataka, buffalo milk was the staple so you would always come across these buffalos. They have these bells round their necks and they are fierce looking things when you get up close! They are taken grazing in the morning to the pasture and here they are being brought home, going past this little mile marker. I grew up with these kinds of images; I spent a lot of time walking through and with herds of buffalo!"
THE WASHER WOMAN
"This is another typical scene. Anywhere you see a body of water like a pond, usually a river, people all congregate there, women in their long dresses. It's fresh water so they're washing their clothes or somebody else's clothes and sundrying them on the rocks. And they are all in their saris; she has hers tucked up into her waist and she's just washing away! It's sort of fun to capture this type of image."