Nilima Sheikh Indian, b. 1945
Further images
Also a part of Sheikh’s Terrain: Carrying Across, Leaving Behind ensemble of scrolls on handmade paper, Heer is the story of the forbidden love affair between Heer and Ranjha sung and retold in Punjab. In this artwork, Heer is shown as an outline figure blending with her surroundings while the trees that lead her path to her lover waiting in the boat, are prominent. It is the crossing of this forest to meet her lover, and the dangers and loneliness of that journey which is indicated in this painting. The lines of Shah Husain, the legendary 16th century Punjabi poet are inscribed on the top portion of the scroll.
The trees are embroidered in different techniques with bullion to give them a raised effect. The text is embroidered in metallic threads making it legible against the soft shades of the background embroidered in flat delicate stitches. This artwork took approximately 7500 hours of handwork to be completed.