Important Notice

"'Birds of Steel', 2006, is a set of diptychs juxtaposing fighter planes and colonial-period Indian heraldry…In Reena's paintings, the quaint and exotic coats of arms of princely states such as Baroda, Jaipur, Kishangarh etc, remind us of the power of invention by which a symbol-making elite uses pre-existing cultural materials to suit current political expediencies…The juxtaposition between martial aircraft streaking through an ever-nocturnal... "'Birds of Steel', 2006, is a set of diptychs juxtaposing fighter planes and colonial-period Indian heraldry…In Reena's paintings, the quaint and exotic coats of arms of princely states such as Baroda, Jaipur, Kishangarh etc, remind us of the power of invention by which a symbol-making elite uses pre-existing cultural materials to suit current political expediencies…The juxtaposition between martial aircraft streaking through an ever-nocturnal sky and the symbolic code of heraldry is sharpened when we note the abstract calligraphy of demons swirling dangerously close to the coat of arms. Armorial bearings are the codified expression of power. But how do we decipher power that remains raw and beyond the range of symbols: power that is not articulated through codes…but manifests itself through inchoate, as yet uncodified, forms?" (Nancy Adajania, "Belonging is a Necklace of Exclusions", Rainbow of Refuse, Bodhi Art exhibition catalogue, Mumbai and Singapore, 2006, p.11)

Read More
Artist Profile
Other works of this artist in: this auction  |  entire site