A Working Couple in Phad by Kalyan Joshi

This vibrant Phad painting by Kalyan Joshi presents a delightful juxtaposition of ancient folk art and the digital era. In this composition, a traditional epic canvas is seamlessly adapted to document the ubiquity of modern technology, capturing a man and a woman sitting face-to-face in a contemporary work space, mimicking a remote office setting.

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.

This artwork features a male and a female figure seated opposite each other at a shared desk. Both individuals have their hands poised over their open laptops, typing in tandem. In classic Phad style, both characters are rendered in sharp side-profiles with large, fish-shaped eyes, pointed noses and rounded facial contours, translating a sense of modern professional focus through centuries-old artistic rules.

Their office-ready attire and ornamentation elegantly preserve their Rajasthani heritage. The man, on the left, wears a top adorned with droplet motifs, paired with plain trousers and classic dark oxford shoes with white laces. The woman wears a patterned blouse paired with solid white trousers and highly detailed slip-ons. Both figures are adorned with traditional golden jewelry, including thick neck rings, waistbands, stacked bangles and circular earrings (kundals).

The workspace is rendered with geometric precision. The two figures sit on matching, high-backed yellow chairs detailed with striped upholstery. They are tucked into a central square table covered in a tablecloth featuring a scalloped lower trim. Atop the table sit two open, grey laptops facing inward, their screens raised and keyboards rendered as a grid of small grey dots.

The artwork utilizes a rich red background that blankets the open space around the workspace, a Phad feature that provides an intense contrast, highlighting the ivory furniture, silver devices and golden elements. The framing remains intentionally minimal and contemporary, with a sharp, crisp black border outlining the canvas. This deliberate, unadorned frame ensures that the focus remains anchored directly on this charming intersection of traditional Indian folk art and the modern corporate world.

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.