Puja Mondal

Puja Mondal (b. 1994, Kolkata) earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in painting from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 2019 and 2017, respectively. A 2023 Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation grantee, she also received the Nasreen Mohamedi Scholarship in 2017.

Her artwork, influenced by miniature painting and Jaipuri fresco techniques, reflects nostalgia and responds to cultural changes and political shifts. Incorporating literary sources such as historical writings and poetry, Puja’s practice aims to highlight dissent and dialogue. Her recent exhibitions include “The Figure of Sound” at Shridharani Gallery and “Mycelial Legacies,” both in New Delhi. She is currently based in Vadodara, India.

SAFFRON FIELD

In her series, Puja confronts the rise of majoritarianism with a powerful statement. Using miniature saffron plants, she symbolizes the creeping influence of saffronisation, equating it to the violence of crushing flowers. Terracotta roof tiles, deliberately worn and marked, represent the erosion of history and tradition. Coated with marble powder and lime, they convey a sense of weariness. Layered with images and texts from news journals, Puja captures the prevailing hopelessness and distress in society.

SYNONYMS OF RUIN

Puja’s work involves plaster casts of a hand-carved wooden box, chosen for its ornamental carvings symbolizing the nurturing influence of art and culture in society. The broken parts serve as a poignant metaphor for the erasure of culture and history. Embedded objects like rusted mesh, barbed wire, and a miniature grater are later excavated from the surface, representing the violence inflicted on humanity, art, heritage, and culture by those in power.