LaGrish

LaGrish Paintings are uniquely infused with texture to evoke the sense of touch and explore the many dimensions of life. 

The paintings below are from an evolving art collection called "South Asian Perspectives".  With the belief that art can be transformative, Grishma creates visual art from stories, intertwining intersectional experiences of culture, womanhood and identity. 

                                                                              
South Asian Perspectives

By: Grishma Shah

~ 
As children, we know how to be in the present moment. Nothing else matters. 
   Not Religion nor Caste. 
Not Creed nor Status. 
 Not Color nor Gender. 

As teenagers, we learn about our bodies and our minds. We are introduced to heritage, and culture. We observe fasts for good husbands. We learn from where our families came and how hard they have worked to preserve sacred traditions. We learn about traditional dance. The different types and regions they hail from. The amount of dedication it takes. 

As adult women, we are well-versed in tradition and cultural beliefs. We have been taught good sanskars (values) and taught to hide parts of us that do not fit into the quintessential definition of a good, sanskari (cultured) woman. As we wear our saris and other ethnic dresses, family members and community elders realize how grown up we are. It is time for the fasts we willingly observed from the time we were children, to come to fruition. With the knowledge we learned as daughters we become wives, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, and mothers. So the legacy of what was, can be passed down to future generations.

Some South Asian women may experience this journey called zindagi (life), differently. As children or teenagers, they may come to know they have disabilities. As young adult women, they navigate their world using this valuable identity, learning good sanskars and earning good degrees along the way. When they wear saris and other ethnic dresses they look beautiful and all grown up, just like their friends. Ready for that next adventure, perhaps they choose shaadi (marriage). Perhaps, they choose something else.
 ~ 

sapne (dreams): are we dreaming as big of a dream for her, as she is for herself?

Image Description: painting of a young child wearing red head scarf and jewelry. she is closing her eyes and smiling. title, sapne (dreams) appears in white letters.

image description: painting of a side profile of two young sisters, -sister on the left has on a yellow dress with a pink bow, the sister on the right has on an orangeish dress with a pink bow, they are sitting down & sharing their dreams with each other in a secret language they created. title, childhood moments appears in white letters.

image description: black & white painting of two young siblings-sister on the left has on pig tails and tank top. -brother on the right has his arm over sister and is wearing t-shirt., title, siblings appears in white letters.

siblings: you love to hate them, you hate to love them. sometimes a best friend, most times your greatest enemy.

a side profile of a punjabi bride with her eyes closed wearing a red veil and decorative gold jewelry on her forehead, nose & neck

image description: 8 mugs with different la grish paintings set beside a garden & walkway