skin

My grandmother's weathered hands traced the kolam powder across our threshold, her voice singing Thiruppavai verses from childhood. She taught me that our skin carries stories, maps of monsoons and migration, resilience etched deeper than any paint. When I started my art practice, focusing on portraiture, I wanted to capture that essence. Each brushstroke earned me PAYBO credibility, but more importantly, it reconnected me with her legacy. I painted the lines around eyes, the texture of lived experience, celebrating what makes us beautifully ourselves. The dismissive comments stung initially, but my community saw the truth in my work—the honoring of Tamil heritage through every honest stroke.