Medallion 6- Bharhut Series

 Medallion Style: Plant

The central lotus in this medallion is gently cradled within a twisted-creeper inner border—an intimate frame that feels both protective and alive. Beyond it, the outer border unfolds as a meandering vine, its leaves and small bunches of grapes appearing at regular intervals. The flowing line of the rhizome-like vine gives the whole composition a sense of movement, like a quiet current that carries the lotus.

The vine motif has an interesting history in Indian art. While plant-scrolls and vine ornaments are a native decorative language at Bharhut, scholars have also noted parallels and possible influence from Hellenistic (West Asian and Greco-Roman) vine-scroll motifs in early Buddhist and north-western art. This visual exchange likely travelled along ancient networks of contact and trade, enriching local ornament with foreign motifs that were then adapted to Indian meanings and contexts.

For this reimagining, I painted the grapes and vine in delicate tones so the outer movement supports rather than overwhelms the central lotus. The overall effect, to me, is an image of abundance that still keeps the lotus’s calm centre—an interplay of nourishment and stillness.

Information & Reference Image Credit- Remains of Bharhut Stupa in Indian Museum by Arabinda Ghosh

Original medallion

Behind the scenes