Mermaids in Saree

Mermaids have always fascinated me for various reasons, and nothing could capture my vision of Indian women better than a mermaid. Though half human she remains constrained to water. When she's above the water for us to see, does she breath or quietly suffocates? I wondered. Though she can't walk on land, can she be outdone in her deep, still and salty waters? Aesthetically it is the intricacy of their scales that appeal to me.

In order to capture the ‘Indianness’ I made use of a cultural motif that is as ancient as it is modern - the sari. What fascinates me is the fact that this meticulous yet complex appearing piece of clothing is nothing but a single, long drape. Moreover, the way Indian women carry a sari is laudable; it is as long as 8 meters and as wide as 1.2 meters! It is so tangled and yet they carry it with ease and elegance.