Mrida
Mrida explores the overlooked beauty of earth, revealing the extraordinary range of colours, textures and forms hidden beneath its seemingly ordinary surface.
Inspired in part by an encounter with the richly coloured volcanic soil of Mumbai, the series draws on natural earth pigments sourced from around the world, alongside pigments Aparna creates from potting soil.
Through dilution, layering and repetition, these materials become both medium and subject, forming abstract compositions that evoke landscapes, sediment and memory without depicting a specific place.
Bringing together earth from different origins, Mrida celebrates the richness and complexity of the ground beneath our feet, transforming familiar materials into unexpected expressions of colour and form.
102 × 76cm
Mixed media on canvas
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida—derived from Sanskrit—means soil, earth, or clay. More than the ground beneath our feet, it embodies one of the five great elements: foundation, fertility, and the silent witness to time’s passage.
Mrida 1 is an abstract exploration of earth in its many forms—soil and clay. When observed closely, the ground reveals a spectrum of colors and textures, from subtle to striking. A visit to Mumbai and its surrounding areas, where deep volcanic soil made surrounding greens glow almost fluorescent, inspired this reflection on the overlooked beauty of earth’s shades.
Back to Mrida | Mrida 2 »
76 × 61cm
Mixed media on canvas
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Derived from Sanskrit, Mrida means earth, soil, or clay. As one of the five fundamental elements, earth represents the foundation of life, carrying within it the traces of time and transformation.
Mrida 2 draws attention to the often-unnoticed beauty of soil and clay, revealing the remarkable variations in colour, texture, and form that lie beneath their seemingly ordinary appearance.
The work was inspired by a visit to Mumbai and its surrounding landscapes, where the rich volcanic soil created a striking contrast with the almost luminous greens of the vegetation. This encounter sparked a deeper appreciation for the unexpected colours and quiet beauty held within the earth.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 1 | Mrida 3 »
76 × 61cm
Mixed media on canvas
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida—derived from Sanskrit—means soil, earth, or clay. More than the ground beneath our feet, it embodies one of the five great elements: foundation, fertility, and the silent witness to time’s passage.
Mrida 3 is an abstract exploration of earth in its many forms—soil and clay. When observed closely, the ground reveals a spectrum of colors and textures, from subtle to striking. A visit to Mumbai and its surrounding areas, where deep volcanic soil made surrounding greens glow almost fluorescent, inspired this reflection on the overlooked beauty of earth’s shades.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 2 | Mrida 4 »
41 x 31.8cm
Mixed media on canvas. Coffee, textured sand, acrylic and oil pastels
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida—derived from Sanskrit—means soil, earth, or clay. More than the ground beneath our feet, it embodies one of the five great elements: foundation, fertility, and the silent witness to time’s passage.
Mrida 4 is an abstract exploration of earth in its many forms—soil and clay. When observed closely, the ground reveals a spectrum of colors and textures, from subtle to striking. Mrida 4 has coffee, textured sand, acrylic and oil pastels.
Mrida 4 received the “Silver Award” at the 19th International Art Awards Exhibition. It is a privilege to be recognized alongside artists representing 18 countries and to have evaluated by a distinguished panel of 17 jurors.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 3 | Mrida 5 »
120 x 80cm
Earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida 5 explores the visual richness of soil and clay, drawing attention to the range of colours and textures often overlooked in these familiar natural materials.
Working with natural earth pigments sourced from different parts of the world, alongside pigments I create from potting soil, I investigate the relationship between material, colour and abstraction.
Through processes of dilution, layering, mixing and repetition, the pigments interact to form subtle variations in tone, depth and texture. The composition is shaped by the natural characteristics of the materials, retaining a connection to their origins while moving beyond literal representation.
As part of my Mrida series, the painting examines the diversity of earth's colours and textures, presenting soil not simply as a natural substance, but as a material with its own distinct visual qualities.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 4 | Mrida 6 »
120 x 80cm
Earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida 6 examines the diversity of colour and texture found within soil and clay, challenging the conventional perception of earth as a uniform material.
Using natural earth pigments sourced from different regions of the world, alongside pigments I create from potting soil, I explore the distinct visual and physical characteristics of these materials.
Through processes of dilution, layering and repetition, the pigments interact to produce variations in tone, depth and surface texture. Their natural properties influence the composition, creating organic patterns and forms that move beyond direct representation.
As part of my Mrida series, the work highlights the often-overlooked richness of earth, presenting soil and clay as sources of colour, texture and abstract expression.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 5 | Mrida 7 »
90 x 120cm
Earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
In Mrida 7, I explore the colour, texture and material qualities of earth, focusing on the visual diversity found within soil and clay.
Working with natural earth pigments sourced from different parts of the world, alongside pigments I create from potting soil, I investigate the expressive potential of these materials and their role in shaping an abstract composition.
Through successive layers of diluted pigments, blending and repetition, the work develops variations in tone, depth and surface texture. The interaction of pigments creates organic forms and patterns that reflect the natural characteristics of the materials.
Rather than representing a specific landscape, I place emphasis on the materials themselves. As part of my Mrida series, the painting draws attention to the often-overlooked richness and complexity of earth through abstraction.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 6 | Mrida 8 »
80 x 120cm
Earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
In Mrida 8, I examine the diversity of colours and textures found within soil and clay, drawing attention to the visual qualities of earth that are often overlooked.
Using natural earth pigments sourced from different regions of the world, alongside pigments I create from potting soil, I explore the relationship between material, colour and abstraction.
Through processes of dilution, layering and blending, the pigments produce subtle variations in tone, depth and texture. Their natural properties influence the composition, allowing the materials to retain a connection to their origins while taking on new visual forms.
As part of my Mrida series, the work highlights the inherent richness and complexity of earth, presenting familiar natural materials through an abstract visual language.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 7 | Mrida 9&10 »
100 x 80cm
Acrylic, earth pigment, limestone and sand on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
In Mrida 11, I examine the visual and material qualities of earth, focusing on the variations in colour, texture and form that are often overlooked in soil and clay.
Working with natural earth pigments, acrylic, limestone and sand, I explore the interaction between organic and processed materials. Through dilution, layering and repetition, these elements create a textured surface with subtle shifts in colour, depth and composition.
I emphasise the physical properties of the materials, allowing their natural characteristics to influence the final composition. While rooted in the colours and textures of earth, the painting moves beyond direct representation towards abstraction.
As part of my Mrida series, Mrida 11 draws attention to the inherent visual complexity of soil, encouraging a closer appreciation of a material often regarded as ordinary.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 9&10 | Mrida-12, 13, 14, 15 »
60 x 50cm
Acrylic, limestone and earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida 9 & 10 is a diptych in which I explore the diversity of colour, texture and material found within soil and clay. The two canvases form a cohesive composition, examining the visual richness of earth beyond its commonly perceived uniform appearance.
Combining acrylic, limestone, natural earth pigments sourced from different regions of the world and pigments I create from potting soil, I investigate the relationship between natural materials and abstract expression.
Through processes of dilution, layering and blending, the pigments produce variations in tone, texture and depth. The material properties of the earth pigments contribute directly to the composition, retaining a connection to their origins while moving beyond literal representation.
As part of my Mrida series, the diptych highlights the often-overlooked colours, patterns and textures of earth, presenting soil and clay as materials of both visual and artistic significance.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 8 | Mrida 11 »
28.5 x 28.5cm each (framed)
Acrylic, limestone, earth pigment sourced from around the world on stretched burlap
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida 12, 13, 14 & 15 is a set of four abstract paintings that explores the diversity of colours and textures found in soil and clay.
Created using acrylic, natural earth pigments and limestone on stretched burlap, the works examine the relationship between natural materials, colour and surface. The texture of the burlap contributes to the compositions, adding a tactile quality that complements the earth-based materials.
Through processes of dilution, layering, mixing and repetition, the pigments form variations in tone, texture and depth. Each painting presents a distinct composition while remaining connected through a shared material palette and approach.
Together, the four works highlight the often-overlooked visual richness of earth, moving beyond its familiar appearance to reveal the subtle colours, patterns and textures found within it.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 11 | Mrida-16 »
50 x 43.5cm (framed)
Acrylic, natural earth pigments, limestone on 400 GSM acid free paper
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Mrida 16 examines the diversity of colours and textures found within soil and clay, drawing attention to the often-overlooked visual qualities of earth.
Created on 400 GSM acid-free paper using acrylic colours and natural earth pigments, the work explores the relationship between material, colour and surface.
Through processes of dilution, layering, mixing and repetition, the pigments interact to create variations in tone, depth and texture. The natural earth pigments retain a connection to their material origins while contributing to an abstract composition that moves beyond literal representation.
As part of the Mrida series, Mrida 16 highlights the richness and complexity of earth, presenting its subtle colours and organic patterns through a contemporary abstract approach.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 12, 13, 14, 15 | Mrida 17 »
54 x 43.5cm (framed)
Acrylic, natural earth pigments, limestone on 400 GSM acid free paper
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
In Mrida 17, I explore the subtle variations in colour, texture and form found within soil and clay, highlighting the visual complexity of earth beyond its commonly perceived uniform appearance.
Working on 400 GSM acid-free paper using acrylic colours and natural earth pigments, I investigate the relationship between natural materials and abstract composition.
Through dilution, layering, mixing and repetition, the pigments interact to create shifts in colour, tonal intensity and surface texture. The resulting forms emerge from the interplay of materials and process, retaining a connection to the earth while moving away from direct representation.
As part of my Mrida series, Mrida 17 reflects my ongoing exploration of the overlooked beauty of earth, drawing attention to the diversity of colours and patterns found within this familiar natural material.
Back to Mrida | « Mrida 16