Daughter of the Earth

Daughter of the Earth is Pragati Sharma Mohanty's retelling of the Ramayana through her signature 'maximalist-miniaturist' storytelling style. Developed over six years of research, drawing, and layered detailing, Pragati's work reinterprets stories from the Ramayana through a contemporary lens while honoring its heroes and the narrative traditions that have carried the epic across generations. Pragati paints in gouache and acrylic on laser-cut rice paper, collaged onto highly detailed backdrops with flora, fauna and architecture – a method she pioneered to give herself the freedom to shift compositions and use repeated motifs across a large, interconnected body of work. The exhibition also includes sculptural works and an interactive installation that extend the paintings into space, immersing viewers in the narrative of the Ramayana.