Art Gallery Visit in Phad by Kalyan Joshi

This one-of-a-kind Phad painting by Kalyan Joshi departs from massive, sprawling epics to depict the exhibition and appreciation of art. By documenting a man and a woman visiting an art gallery to admire a traditional folk portrait, a wonderful commentary on how ancient traditions are preserved, viewed and honored in the modern world is created.

Phad painting is a vibrant, 700-year-old scroll painting tradition originating from the Bhilwara region of Rajasthan. Traditionally executed on long sheets of hand-woven cloth (phad), these paintings functioned as mobile temples. Priest-singers (Bhopas) would travel from village to village, unfurling the scrolls at night and singing tales of folk deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan.

The composition features a male and a female art enthusiast standing on the right side of the canvas, viewed from a three-quarter back angle as they look forward at an exhibit. The man stands with his arm affectionately placed on the woman's shoulder, both gazing toward a large, framed painting mounted on the central gallery wall. In classic Phad style, all figures, including the one within the inner painting, are rendered with large, fish-shaped profile eyes, sharp noses and rounded facial contours, translating an intense aesthetic appreciation.

Their attire and ornamentation seamlessly blend contemporary fashion with classic Rajasthani design motifs. The woman wears a patterned white blouse adorned with delicate star or floral shapes, paired with horizontally striped trousers. Her hair is elegantly styled into a long braid running down her back. The man wears a vertically striped long-sleeved shirt paired with plain trousers featuring prominent back pockets. Both figures are outfitted with traditional golden jewelry, including thick neck rings, waistbands, bangles and circular earrings (kundals). They complete their modern look with patterned sneakers covered in dense linework.

The centerpiece of their attention is the painting within the painting. Enclosed in a thick, golden frame, the internal artwork depicts a striking close-up profile of a traditional Rajasthani warrior, featuring an elaborate yellow turban, a prominent curled mustache and twin plumes extending from the headpiece against a dark crimson backdrop.

The gallery architecture introduces a unique sense of linear perspective rarely seen in traditional folk art. The room features a dark crimson floor and ceiling panels that flank a stark white central gallery wall. Three round, golden spotlights are embedded in the ceiling directly above the exhibit, casting an auspicious glow. Flanking the viewing area are two tall, architectural pillars or columns adorned with vertical fluting lines and decorative golden bands at their midsections and bases, structurally framing the couple's shared cultural experience.

In alignment with modern, minimalist Phad experiments, the framing is clean and simple, with a sharp black border neatly encapsulating the entire canvas. This prevents any visual distraction, driving focus straight onto the cultural elegance of the artwork.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

Due to high demand for artworks from this artist, the delivery timelines are currently 1-3 weeks.

If you are on a tight deadline, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email to discuss your requirements.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.