Untitled 

Sonaly Gandhi created this painting with acrylics on canvas. Acrylic paint has a relatively short history, becoming commercially available in the mid-20th century. Artists have embraced it for its versatility. Unlike oil paint, acrylics are water-based, dry quickly, and can be thinned or mixed with a variety of mediums. In this work, Gandhi carefully applies blocks of color, creating a composition of complex visual patterns. Note the contrasts: the stark checkerboard pattern on the figure's clothing, the black spots of the dalmatian, and the striped umbrella. This approach evokes both pop art and Op art, movements that emphasized consumer culture and perceptual effects, respectively. It also acknowledges the labor and precision involved in hand painting such geometric shapes and patterns. Gandhi's choice of materials is crucial to the effect of this image, demonstrating how 'everyday' acrylics can achieve extraordinary aesthetic effects. The artwork challenges traditional hierarchies by elevating craft techniques to the realm of fine art, inviting us to reconsider the boundaries of artistic expression.