Dr. Ruchi Mital

“Eternal Shadows”

I was introduced to enameling by my elder sister Ritu Sangal a few years ago and post that had the opportunity to join a workshop conducted by renowned enameller Trish White in 2018 when she was touring India to discover its vivid nature. I was really impressed by her way of teaching this amazing medium with such simplicity and leaving each participant to explore their own skills, along with of course, the encouragement received by Ritu, I was motivated to set up a small studio at my home town Prayagraj (earlier known as Allahabad), UP, India. I don’t do enamel regularly but find it interesting as a stress buster hobby, a break from my duties as Principal of a Fashion & Textile institute - Ruchi’s Institute of Creative Arts in Prayagraj.1

Prayagraj, is situated at the confluence (Sangam) of the three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and the Mythical Saraswati. As an old city it finds its mention in the ancient Buddhist and Hindu religious literature. Apart from the Ashokan Pillar, The Allahabad Fort, Khusrau’s Tomb, Anand Bhawan etc., the city gains its importance due to Sangam, where every year on the banks a fair (magh mela) is organized and every 12 years the Kumbh Mela. These fairs are attended by millions of devotees who come here to take a dip in the holy waters at Sangam, in full faith and belief of washing off their sins and attaining eternal salvation (moksha) on particular days depending on the movement of the sun and the moon.

When I was given the theme of Eternal Shadows my mind wandered towards the millions of people from all walks of life, from all castes and creeds, who uninvited come and attend this fair every year in the hope of attaining salvation.

After making a few rough sketches I finalized this one. The steps symbolize the path towards attaining salvation, which people take when they come to Prayagraj for the holy dip. The eclipse (an eternal shadow of the moon on the sun from times immemorial), depicts the auspicious time when the holy baths are taken to attain salvation. The confluence of the three rivers depicts the location and the background signifies a much happening universe. The people walking the path have their shadows following them towards eternity.

This piece which I have enameled is on a steel plate (5”x10”) done with painting enamel colors and fired 8 times at about 800 degrees Celsius.  After drawing the composition and coloring it on paper I set out to transfer it on a black steel plate. I cut out a stencil of the basic forms of the steps and the eclipse, and then did a white coat. After that it was a building up of the design as it developed.    

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