This collection of mixed media artworks has been inspired by the transformative journey of sea glass, and all the natural elements that converge in its formulation.

There is a subtle magic in ordinary objects like broken bottles and shards of glassware gradually being moulded into something beautiful. Nature takes these mundane pieces of our daily lives, and weathers them into small treasures, polished in the colours of the sea. Starting out as everyday articles discarded at the seaside, their sharp, jagged edges are abraded by sand and softened by water, becoming smooth to the touch, and frosted and translucent in appearance. The colossal marine universe, with its undulation and swell of tides, its rocks, brine, shells and corals, is concentrated into their formation. Tumbled and tossed, sea glass is shaped moment by moment and layer by layer, until it is found washed up on shore, glowing by the water's edge. Each piece is different, and lying at its core is its own individual history.

I first came across sea glass on the beaches of Jordan and was instantly fascinated by the story behind its development. I found a wealth of vivid stimuli in the organic factors that accumulate to craft these little gems from the ocean.

I have sought to reimagine this path of metamorphosis, with the creation of unusual, compact panoramas on flawless white and ivory backgrounds. The landscape of these works has been built in complex layers over time; the confluence of pen, ink, and acrylic paint emulating nature's embroidery. Taking a microscopic lens to flora, fauna and sea water, a world heavily populated with detail unfurls across paper, embellished with minuscule circles and clusters of fine lines. The fluid charm of sea glass, hidden underwater realms, shell beds, effervescent bubbles, grains of sand, the movement of waves and the foliage of forest floors are depicted within whimsically composed forms. This rendering of the microcosms ensconced in the patterns of nature is balanced by aquatic blues and greens, and the multi-hued reflections of the sun on water. Tones taken from the black of night, gold of sunrise and silver of moonshine accentuate the delicate ink lineation and richly detailed, intricate depths of these works.

At the genesis of a new artwork, there is no fixed vision of its final appearance. Every patiently added overlay builds up to the eventual conclusion, the infinite, carefully hand drawn minutiae lending an almost print-like finish to each unique composition.

Mandira Ravindranath
October 2017