The vanishing jester: Art's mirror to truth and power
The jester represents a unique historical figure, a licensed truth-teller within courts who could critique power through wit and survive
By Brijeshwari Gohil April 02, 2026
Columns
Brijeshwari Gohil
World in a square foot: Tiles, power, and the quiet crisis in Morbi
Tiles are an ancient global language, now acting as a barometer of the world's fractures, with industrial production in Morbi, India, being impacted by geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions
By Brijeshwari Gohil March 27, 2026
From Hormuz to Suez, why waterways still rule the world
Strait of Hormuz's historical context—from ancient Indian Ocean trade networks to modern global logistics—reveals how narrow waterways have consistently dictated the flow of commerce and shaped the rise and fall of empires
By Brijeshwari Gohil March 21, 2026
Many traditions, one name: The complexity of ‘tribal art’ in contemporary India
Tribes Art Fest 2026 at Travancore Palace is a vibrant cultural gathering that transforms a historic complex into a meeting ground for Indian artists, storytellers, and craftspeople
By Brijeshwari Gohil March 13, 2026
The quiet return of classical Indian art
Classical Indian art is finding a new platform in the Indian art market, with Todywalla Auctions leading the charge to reintroduce antiquities and historical pieces into mainstream auctions
By Brijeshwari Gohil March 06, 2026
The ruler’s hand: Statues, silence, and the long life of power
Removal of Lutyens’ bust does not diminish his architectural legacy. New Delhi remains inconceivable without him. What it does diminish is the assumption that artistic brilliance alone guarantees eternal veneration, especially when that brilliance serves an unequal order
By Brijeshwari Gohil February 26, 2026
How LLDC Bhuj is redefining future of craft
The Living and Learning Design Centre in Bhuj offers a powerful redefinition of craft, treating Kutchi embroidery traditions not as aesthetic objects but as complete systems of knowledge
By Brijeshwari Gohil February 20, 2026
Lucknow’s fish are everywhere, and they tell a story older than the city itself
The fish in Lucknow isn’t just an imported Persian flourish. It swims in much deeper waters.
By Brijeshwari Gohil February 15, 2026
Women, cricket, and the making of a new sporting culture
Women's cricket is experiencing a cultural expansion, moving from the fringes to become a dominant force with record-breaking viewership and a new, unapologetic confidence
By Brijeshwari Gohil February 06, 2026
When prehistoric art rewrites the story of being human
Prehistoric art, as revealed by a 70,000-year-old handprint, is now seen as a fundamental human survival strategy rather than mere aesthetic expression
By Brijeshwari Gohil January 30, 2026
Valentino Garavani and the quiet permanence of beauty
Valentino Garavani’s legacy represents the end of an era where fashion unapologetically aspired to be art, built on craft, discipline, and permanence
By Brijeshwari Gohil January 23, 2026
Why a centenary matters
Cultural centenaries serve as pivotal moments for critique and re-evaluation, not just celebratory pageantry for artists and institutions
By Brijeshwari Gohil January 16, 2026
Why we were still obsessed with Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette's style is best understood not through history but through the powerful material culture she curated, from fashion to porcelain
By Brijeshwari Gohil January 09, 2026
Light, time, and renewal at the New Year
Stained glass, an art form of light and memory, is at the centre of a global conversation about heritage, conservation, and renewal, highlighted by the restoration debates at Notre-Dame Cathedral
By Brijeshwari Gohil December 31, 2025
The many winters of Santa Claus
Santa Claus's origins are not a singular invention but an accumulation of winter figures shaped by fear, faith, and the struggle for survival across Europe
By Brijeshwari Gohil December 25, 2025