Hasan Ali Kadiwala
Mahak (fragrance), 2025
Acrylic & oil, laser engraving on torched wood
35.6 x 45.7 cm
When I look at this piece, I think of the moments when sound and smell unexpectedly meet like listening to music and suddenly sensing a fragrance in the air. For me, that invisible presence becomes a bridge to childhood, where the earth, animals, and air held a distinct scent of belonging. The landscape in this painting is layered with muted tones of soil and sky, while the cows, rendered in a striking red, embody both memory and presence. They move through the space as if carrying traces of a past that still lingers in the air. The yellow path curves like a stream of light, suggesting movement, rhythm, and continuity. This work is less about representation and more about evoking a fleeting sensation one that returns like fragrance in memory.