CONTEMPORARY ART STOCKROOM *GUEST ARTIST - Sid Pattni

A fly in the milk I 2024, oil, synthetic polymer on canvas , 101cm x 76cm

My work is inspired by a 17th century Indian miniature painting depicting the poignant love story of Layla and Majnun. Although traditionally viewed as a love story, I selected a scene which acutely speaks of the tensions represented within Majnun. In this scene, he finds himself isolated in the wilderness, in a state of despair and flux, unable to reconcile his inner dissonance. I chose to reimagine the original work by manipulating and distorting it to reflect my current sense of dissonance and flux in being in-between my Indian and Australian identities.