Olympics
Inspired by Olympic & Paralympic Sports
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Vinest Phogat is an Indian wrestler, who was disqualified in the final round of the Olympics for being 100gm overweight. A lot of criticism, media hype, disappointment and opposition resulted.
This painting celebrates Phogat. Regardless of the outcome, she is #1 and won the gold in the heart of a billion Indians.
Here, she sits on a stack of 50 lines that reflect 50kg (the cut off weight for her category). She sits with her left index finger lifted to #1 - she already believed she was a winner. The silver and gold background reflect the medal she deserved to win.
The silhouette is inspired from a photograph of hers captured in the semi-final match.
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2024
14.8 x 21 cm (5.8 x 8.3 in)
Acrylic and pen on paper
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India and Pakistan have a complicated history. The nations are often at political war, and sport rivalry is intense.
This year at the Olympics, Neeraj Chopra (India) and Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) defied
that narrative.Here, the two javelin throwers are facing each other, perhaps giving the impression they are at war or throwing spears. Instead, they are showing their strength and skill, and making their countries proud. Through sport, they lifted each other up and celebrated each others’ wins. The javelins are painted in gold and silver, reflecting Nadeem’s gold win and Chopra’s silver.
Circles are seen as a symbol of unity, a word not often associated with the two countries. The colours represent the two countries’ national colours, but the greens are deliberately merged.
As India celebrates Independence Day today and Pakistan marked it yesterday, here’s to one spirit, more generosity, and less fighting and rivalry.
_2024
21 x 29.7 cm (8.27 x 11.69 in - A4)
Mixed Media