The Open Studio / Shreya Shukla
Shreya Shukla
Unbound Connection VII
Two loose pieces of a puzzle, each holding a quiet figure
The red ground moves like a river seen from above.
Every curve is the edge of a piece that is not there.
Two pale shapes float free, rough with tiny white dots.
A dotted line runs round each window like a seam.
Inside, a figure sits curled in warm orange lines.
The other holds something long across its lap.
They lean toward each other but do not touch.
The work
Shreya Shukla grew up in a rural home. Her mother and grandmother taught her embroidery there. In this square work she joins those lessons with geru, the natural earth pigment the women in her family used on walls and floors. Shukla stitches with Chikankari jali stitch and running stitch. She then adds acrylic for structure and contrast. Two pale puzzle shapes sit on a deep red ground. A small seated figure rests inside each one.
In the artist’s words
“I use Geru on my canvases to bring its raw, natural texture into my work and keep those memories alive. I weave this personal history using Chikankari embroidery, especially the intricate Jali stitch and running stitch. Each thread on the canvas is a piece of the love and heritage passed down to me.”
- Theme
- Connection across generations
- Material
- Geru natural pigment, Chikankari embroidery (jali stitch and running stitch) and acrylic colours on surface
- Size
- 45.72 × 45.72 × 2.5 cm
- Year
- 2026
- Edition
- Unique Piece(1/1)
- Framed
- No
- About the artist
- University of Allahabad
- From
- Kanpur Nagar
- Code
- RC-549
