About my painting - The Essence of Mumbai

About the painting - The Essence of Mumbai [2022]

This Still-Life painting is a 36’ X 48’ Acrylic & Oil painting where I have tried to capture the uniqueness of the Indian city of Mumbai

Theme: Capturing the essence of a city I have lived in almost my whole life.

Mumbai is a vibrant city along the Arabian Sea on the western coast of India. The financial hub of the country has always had its doors open to Indians from all cities to come and make a glorious life within it. Over decades people have been flocking to Mumbai and making it their home. Its has been a paradise for those looking to work hard and make themselves a good life. Mumbai is a land of beautiful sunsets and beaches.

In this painting titled ‘The Essence of Mumbai’:-

• Mumbai has always been a prosperous city. The background is a glorious yellow orange to depict the colourful sunsts.

• The table cloth is the quintessential cotton Sholapur bedsheet.

• The Book titles tell you that Mumbai is a made up of seven islands and it is more famously and popularly known as Bombay. 

• The wooden bookend dolls tell us that this is a city held to gather by locals and migrants

• The Hibiscus flower is a favoured offering to Lord Ganesha. Mumbai is home to SiddhiVinayak. 

• The sparrows symbolise and  represent the locals of Mumbai and the people who come in to make Mumbai their home.

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Bombay to Mumbai

It is its people that hold the 7 islands of Mumbai together!  This unique aspect is depicted in this still-life painting by way of books titled 'Bombay to Mumbai - the story of 7 islands' and 'The Gateway to India - Mumbai' held in place by beautifully carved wooden bookends of a man and a woman.

Set against the glowing yellow & red backdrop that represents the brilliant sunsets along the Arabian sea coast, the commonly found Hibiscus flower symbolising vibrancy and carefree energy along with the 'Sholapur bedcover' table cloth, this painting is a visual representation of Mumbai - the land of opportunities.