Artist Indra Persaud Milowe discovered her love of art at just 15 years old. As a high school student in Trinidad and Tobago, a young Milowe found herself drawing inspiration from her high school art teacher.
“I adored my high school art teacher, Mrs. Helga Mohammed. She was from Madrid and married to a Trinidadian. On my first day in her class, she wrote on the blackboard: Art is not just a painting hanging up on a wall, art is in every aspect of your daily life,” Milowe said.
While Milowe experimented with different tools and techniques over the years, acrylic paint is her preferred medium. In her latest piece “Celebration,” Milowe translates the use of jharokhas from traditional Indian culture into a modern celebratory symbol.
A jharokha was a stone window typically found projecting over the upper story of a building. Historically the jharokha was a design commonly seen in classic Indian architecture. The style was used in Rajasthan as a hanging window enclosed by a balcony. Jharokhas usually stood over a market or street among other open spaces. The word “jharokha” is derived from the Sanskrit words “jhar” which means bells, and “okha” which means “windows.”
Jharokhas were used by officials and aristocrats to address a public audience also known as darshan. They were used by medieval kings in palaces as a direct way of addressing the public. Later the practice was adopted by the Mughal emperors such as Emperor Humayun. Emperor Humayun was the second Mughal ruler of India whole ruled from 1530 to 1540 and then again from 1555 to 1556 when he died. Emperor Humayun used jharokhas to speak and listen to the public from his balcony. These public meetings known as jharokha darshan were continued by his son Emperor Akbar.
The design of the jharoka traditionally consisted of a pyramidal roof which is supported by two or more pillars. Although jharokhas can be closed by a jali or perforated screen, they were generally left partly open for the residents to observe passing processions and activities.
“Celebration!” by Indra Persad Milowe — a jharokha created through the use of fiber glass.
Today, jharokhas have transformed into interior decorative windows and adorn the walls of many homes. They are generally made of wood and can feature elaborate artistic carvings. They come in different shapes and sizes. They are available in a variety of colors and you can pick one that blends in perfectly with the décor of your home.
Jharokha art can also be displayed in actual windows. Jharokhas can be adorned with mirrors, candles or diyas, photographs or other artwork. They act as frames to enhance the beauty of homes or other buildings. “Celebration!” reflects this modern-day use of jharokhas as adornment for various celebrations, holidays and festivals. Milowe’s design includes the use of needlework on burlap and the use of multicolored thread. It is adorned with bells and assorted mirrors.
While its history goes back centuries, jharokhas are an option in celebrating Indo Caribbean holidays such as Holi and Diwali among others. “Celebration!” is a prime example of how generations can continue to utilize traditional aspects of heritage in today’s modern style.
To learn more about the artist and her latest exhibitions visit her website.
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