I wanted my artworks to explore the patterns of meaning created by women from different cultures while also serving as a space to manifest my own life stories. In 2009, I held a solo exhibition at Clay Street Press in Cincinnati, where I created many works that expressed my grief after the passing of my mother and father. The exhibition, Samsara: The Migration of Souls, was an homage to my parents. Their passing prompted me to reflect deeply on my past and Hindu spiritual heritage.
One of the pieces, Adishesha, draws inspiration from Hinduism, where Adishesha is the king of all Nagas (serpent deities) and one of the primal beings of creation. In this print, the lines of the ‘kolam’—intricate patterns often drawn as painted prayers—became spiritual links to my ancestors. The blue color represents a metaphysical space, while the snake motif pays homage to my maternal grandfather, whose first name, ‘Adhisesha,’ means ‘King of Snakes.’ The snake winds its way through the print, sometimes clearly visible, at other times hidden, symbolizing a pathway that moves both forward, helping me heal, and backward, confronting my past.