Kurdish Plight

This painting was inspired by a newspaper article about the Kurdish people still being persecuted in Turkey. The abstract shapes come from a handmade rug. The designs on a rug are not always "perfect" because of the length it takes to weave them. The crafts person
adds a bit of them self into the design. Sometimes it can be symbols representing life events. For example the symbols can represent the type of person the woman wants to marry. I've been to Turkey a few times but never as far north as where this Kurdish woman lives.

Pussy Riot

Left this painting for a few weeks before deciding if it is finished. Consensus is that it is.

It is inspired by the protest by the punk rock band "pussy riot" in Russia.

What do you think of it? Like or not?

Boom for Them, Bust for Me

I've been looking through old photos and was reminded of a holiday to China. So, after also coming across an article about what was happening to farmers I have started work on a painting in acrylics.

Essentially the economy is growing at the expense of the farmers, either those who have migrated to the cities for work, or for those who have remained in the rural areas.

Here is an extract from the painting - just started it really:

Extracts from the news relating to this painting:


"The migrant worker has been called into existence as a result of the transition from socialism into a form of capitalism. Their forms of protest, like their identities, integrate the old (peasants) with the new (peasant/migrant workers). They use old forms of protests that occurred frequently under Communism, such as mass marches to confront bosses and petitions for government intervention. These are coupled with newer forms of protest, which include strikes, legal complaints, and getting the media involved.
Peasants have to contend with local authorities in the villages and towns that want to pillage their land...they have to fight against being worked to death - literally" (http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/12482/will_peasants_and_migrant_workers_forge_chinas_new_political_vanguard/)

"Workers-of-rural-origins are discriminated culturally and materially. Their younger cohorts in particular find themselves insecure, neither belonging to the city nor feeling able to return to a livelihood in the countryside.

There are still 800 million peasants living in the countryside, 400 million of whom have seen their incomes stagnate or decline." (http://sacom.hk/archives/640)

"As China Daily reports this week, "The 230 million-strong migrant workforce drives China's economy, but a lack of access to education, health and other services … forces massive saving, restraining Beijing's efforts to shift growth's focus to consumption from investment." No media are able to talk about migrant workers' basic rights." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/25/china-rural-migrants-more-respect)

Day in Art in Action

Taken these in Oxford Art in Action. I can see these sculptures metamorphizing into something in a painting.

Bosen Too

There was an article recently complaining about the fact that "Bosen" of the "Higgs Bosen" has been forgotten and all the credit has been given to the British professor Higgs. So started a painting about redressing the balance a little bit. Working title is "Bosen Too"

Work in Exhibition

Tonight it is raining in the Midlands. Did you know that? And I am on way to Much Wenlock for private view where I have three prints on show. One is vermillion, another is gold and the final piece is deep brown. They are simple and elegant. Look at www.facebook.com/ToscaLahiri to see the work.

Recent Work

I have been working in the print workshop recently. Here are some images:

This is the workshop -











This is the plate for a collograph about a woman in her eighties farming with scythe and sickle -

This is the reveal -










and this is the finished print

Welcome

Hi, I am an artist:I spend a lot of my time thinking and imagining. From this point I then start creating, exploring the media and/or the concept. In this process I make discoveries and I have therefore progressed in my work. I  make a creative mess with paint and ink on canvas or paper and generate more ideas. Idea development and subsequent execution as a painting or print radiates energy.I see things differently; I am an analytical decision maker with a bit of gut feeling thrown in; I adhere to rules where appropriate (i.e. business concerns) but I thrive personally without protocols. From the original "mess" a coherent narrative emerges in my work.