THE RAAG WORKS

Raag Darbari

Seeking the way back to an inner sanctuary.

Materials

Includes sand collected on the artist’s travels

Artist note

Raag Darbari invites us to delve into the profound realm of inner connection with our divine being: a sensation so powerful that it lingers in our thoughts, compelling us to seek it again and again. Like chasing an elusive high, there’s a magnetic pull that draws us back to that moment of utter peace, joy, and surrender. In the stillness of these moments, we find contentment and a sense of nothingness, as if time stands still.

Darbari embodies the relentless pursuit of recapturing that feeling, searching for the roadmap back to our inner sanctuary. Through my artwork, I aim to capture the essence of this journey: a journey of seeking, surrendering, and ultimately finding solace within ourselves.

For this work, I use grains of sand from all over the world, collected from my many expeditions—a symbolic representation of my efforts to know myself better by stepping out of my comfort zones. I hope that through greater self-awareness, I can rediscover that profound level of connectivity.

The design features a dagger piercing through the heart—a violent image at first glance, yet it signifies the death of the old self, paving the way for transformation and rebirth. Amidst this transition, wings emerge, representing the transitions between realms—a symbolic journey of transcendence and growth.