This illustration is an ode to a father from his son, it is a mark of respect.
At first glance, some of the elements may feel like they don’t really belong, but each and every detail has a story to tell- the challenge here was fitting all of these varying narratives into a single frame.
Yuvraj’s father’s story begins in a hole-in-the-wall curtain shop in one of Mumbai’s villages, where he would weave just as many dreams and aspirations as he wove curtains. The vehicles pictured in the artwork are a metaphor for his growth as he made something out of himself- starting with a motorcycle, going on to buy the first car in his village with the Omni, to the very first time he flew in an aeroplane, with Indigo airlines. This artwork is an attempt at a testament to his character, portraying his love for planting trees and the temple he constructed, it shows how he made sure that his community grew along with him. The fact that all the neighbouring shopkeepers from his first shop in the village, Chandu from Masala Mart and the tailor Raj, are close friends of the family to this day speaks for itself.
Yuvraj remembers how his mother would keep his father company at the shop, and to this day, remains his pillar of support, while his sister would play on a tricycle in front of the shop. The city skyline is a personal interpretation of the many shades of Mumbai, ranging from tiny single storey dwellings of the impoverished masses situated in stark contrast right next to high rises of the wealthy that touch the clouds. Life has come full circle for Yuvraj’s father though, as he started his career working for the people in these towering structures, and today, his son owns an apartment in one such high rise.
