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Untitled 1999

Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Mud, hay, pigment on plywood, created in 1999-01-01
Accession No.
2000.165a-m
Date Created
1999
Gallery location
On display in QAG Gallery 6
Department
Contemporary Asian Art
Dimensions A
13 components: a: 35 x 40 x 10cm; b: 47 x 50 x 13cm; c: 35 x 40 x 5cm; d: 50 x 40 x 5cm; e: 39 x 43 x 12cm; f: 44.5 x 52.5 x 15cm; g: 55 x 40 x 7.5cm; h: 166 x 121.5 x 10cm; i: 165 x 122 x 3cm; j-l: 100 x 308 x 18cm (each); m: 159 x 48.5 x 18cm
Media Category
Installation
Medium
Mud, hay, pigment on plywood
Place Created
Brisbane
Credit Line
Gift of the artist 2000

The clay reliefs and figures created by Sonabai reflect a singular artistic vision shaped in isolation and imagination. Living in the remote village of Puhputra in Chhattisgarh, Central India, Sonabai began experimenting with clay and natural pigments after her marriage, when she was largely confined to her home. What began as a way to entertain her young son gradually transformed her surroundings into a vivid, handmade world filled with animals, deities and ornamental screens.

In 1999, Sonabai travelled to Brisbane for the third Asia Pacific Triennial with her son Daroga Ram. This selection of screens, part of a larger room-sized installation, invites viewers into Sonabai’s intricate world, where musicians, serpents and creatures from both domestic life and Hindu mythology appear in latticed jali screens. Sonabai’s legacy lives on in her region and through family members who continue her distinctive practice.
 

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© Estate of Sonabai

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Exhibitions featuring this object

© Lee Wen

APT3

Sep 1999 - Jan 2000

Raja Ravi Varma's Laxmi 1894, printed by the Ravi Varma Press c.1910–20, garlanded with flowers for the official opening of 'The God of Small Things', QAG, September 2025 / © The artists / Photograph: N Umek, QAGOMA

'The God of Small Things'

Sep 2025 - Oct 2026

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Artwork Boomerang this artwork made of Glass lustres, plated steel, electric cables, LED lamps, created in 2006-01-01

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Artwork Yambi kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Yambi kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

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Artwork Very very sweet medina (Home sweet home) (no. 2) this artwork made of Mixed media including wood, synthetic polymer paint on medium density fibreboard, glitter perspex, wheels, cassette tape, speakers, tube lights, fairy lights, stickers, folders, paper, created in 1999-01-01

Very very sweet medina (Home sweet home) (no. 2) 1999

Artwork Untitled panel this artwork made of Plywood, multani clay, natural colour, created in 2015-01-01

Untitled panel 2015

Artwork Black painting no.50 this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 2008-01-01

Black painting no.50 2008

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