Harsh Wardhan Bhilala - Makravahini

Description from the seller

"India Contemporary curated by Veer Hooda" presents a rare opportunity for collectors and art lovers in Europe to acquire original works by highly established Indian contemporary artists, and to connect with one of the most vibrant and fast-growing art markets in the world.

IG: @indiacontemporary.art

India Contemporary is a curated initiative that brings leading Indian contemporary artists directly to European collectors. Each artist is selected personally by Veer Hooda for artistic depth, originality and long-term relevance, and each work is an original, sourced from the artist's own studio and shipped with full documentation. The programme exists because the distance between the Indian studio and the European wall has, until now, been the main thing standing between these artists and the collectors who would want them. India Contemporary closes that distance: no intermediary market, no re-sale mark-up, direct access at an early stage.

India's contemporary art scene is in an exceptional moment - dynamic, intellectual, many-voiced, and growing quickly in both global visibility and investment value. With rising interest from international collectors and institutions, this is a compelling time for European collectors to engage with Indian contemporary art at a pivotal stage of its ascent.

The works are offered exclusively by auction on Catawiki.

The works are curated in Vienna by Vijit Veer Hooda and shipped to you directly from the artist's studio in India. Buyers in the EU enjoy 0% customs duty on original works of art imported from India.

About the Artist: Harsh Wardhan Bhilala

Harsh Wardhan Bhilala is an Indian contemporary painter, born in 2001 in Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh. He lives and works in Indore, where he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts (2019-2023) and his Master of Fine Arts in Painting (2023-2025) at the Government Institute of Fine Arts.

In September 2025 he was chosen as Artist of the Week by Abir Pothi, the daily journal of India's art, architecture and design, in a feature titled "From Sacred Geometry to Street Stories: Finding The Spiritual in Everyday Spaces".

Artistic vision

In the artist's own words: "In my artistic journey, Devi Maa does not appear in a fixed form, but as an infinite energy - a boundless Shakti that cannot be confined to a single image or identity. For me, this presence extends beyond traditional forms and becomes something that exists within everyday life, emotions, and shared human experiences. I experience this presence in the life around me - in the laughter and conversations of village women, in moments of togetherness and joy, and in the quiet strength of their daily routines. I see it in the simple bindi, not just as an ornament, but as a symbol of feminine identity and inner Shakti - a small mark with deep cultural and spiritual meaning. Visually, I blend the simplicity and natural rhythm of tribal and folk traditions with contemporary approaches. Through bold geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and layered cut-and-paste techniques, I create textured compositions that attempt to give form to this invisible presence. Each work becomes a tribute to the divine feminine - a celebration of her infinity, strength, and beauty, born out of my own creative experience and continuous journey of connection."

Exhibitions

Group exhibitions: Varnakan, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2025). Kalasangam, Hiralal Rai Kala Vithika, Jabalpur (2025). Darshika, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2024 and 2025). Strokes of Destiny, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2024). Vinayak, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). Roop Bhed, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2022 and 2023). Varnika, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2019 and 2020). Prathamesh, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore (2019).

Art camps and workshops: Rang Raag Workshop, Government College of Fine Art, Indore (2024). Art Camp at Tansen Samaroh, Gwalior (2024). Watercolour Workshop, Khajuraho Mahotsav, Khajuraho (2023). Hriday Drishyam, Government College of Fine Art, Indore (2022).

About the Artwork

Artist: Harsh Wardhan Bhilala
Name: Makravahini
Year: 2025
Size: 106.7 x 91.4 cm (42 x 36 inches)
Technique: Mixed media on canvas

In this painting, I have depicted Goddess Narmada as a divine, ever-flowing energy seated on her sacred vehicle, the Makara. Inspired by folk and tribal art traditions, the composition is created using my distinctive cut-and-paste technique with canvas and paper. To enhance texture and rhythm in the form, I have also applied bindis by hand. Symbolic elements like the crescent moon, floral motifs, and mudra-like hands represent the spiritual depth, protection, and sacredness of Maa Narmada. This work reflects a balance of devotion, technical experimentation, and contemporary visual expression.

Exhibited: Varnakan 2025, Devlalikar Kala Vithika, Indore, May 2025.

Hand signed by the artist on the reverse in black marker. The frame shown in some photographs is not included; the work is shipped unframed, rolled in a tube.

About Veer Hooda - ig: @vi_hov

Veer Hooda is an Indo-European (Austrian) contemporary artist based in Vienna, whose practice is shaped by a deep connection to his Indian roots and a great love for his now home, Europe.

Veer Hooda has exhibited across some of the top galleries and exhibitions in the world and recently finished his sold-out show at Art Basel Miami 2025. This year he will be exhibiting at, among others, the Venice Biennale 2026 and ArtExpo New York 2026, in multiple exhibitions across Europe and Austria, and returning to Art Basel Miami at the end of the year.

While his own work reflects a strong conceptual and material sensibility developed over years of creative and professional experience, Hooda is equally driven by a clear mission: to make outstanding Indian artistic talent more visible and accessible within the European art market. Positioned between India and Europe, he acts as a cultural bridge, offering early access to artists and narratives that are already gaining significant international recognition - a distinct insider perspective at a pivotal moment for Indian contemporary art.

Signed and authenticity: The work is hand signed by the artist, and a signed Certificate of Authenticity is provided with every work by India Contemporary by Vijit Veer Hooda.

Packaging & insurance: The painting is packaged professionally and shipped rolled in a tube. It arrives unstretched and will need to be restretched onto a frame on arrival - any framer will do this routinely.

Shipped from: This work is shipped from India by NIV Art Center and is fully insured on its way to the buyer. Buyers enjoy a 0% custom duty on works coming from India. All our artworks have been delivered without issue and in a timely way to all buyers, no additional fee has ever been applied to any of our shipments. We accompany the buyer through every step, from collection to the door, and are on hand for anything the process needs.