Miniatures + Magritte/Borges/Freud (+ Edward Gorey) = Riyaz Design

Indian miniature painting: ancient art form of densely wrought detail, well-attended battles, the patron Jahangir and allegorical accessories.

The style's legacy remains alive in the back-rooms of souvenir shops throughout Rajasthan, with brushes wielded by the great-great-etc. grandson's of the art form's originators. You can still pick up an exquisitely wrought copy of a 15th century scene, take home a frame filled with lolling, doe-eyed maidens, men who wore slippers into battle, tigers that roamed well-stocked royal forests and huqqahs that will remain eternally filled.



In 1997, Alexander Gorlizki traveled to India and met classically trained miniature artist Riyaz Uddin in Jaipur. Riyaz's generationally-honed skills with squirrel hair brushes and gold leaf were art directed by the wonkily world + art history-spanning imagination of British artist Gorlizki: a divine partnership was born. Since, the staid world of miniature painting has been deconstructed - turban by elephant by winged samovar.

An ancient art form turned on its jeweled ear.

I visted Alex's bright studio of wonders yesterday (intrigued by the art since 2001) and we dicussed how the Hudson re-born Circa Trade might feature some works.

C - inspired