Debjani Bhardwaj

(India)

Oman takes great pride in its magnificent ecology and diverse flora and fauna, actively protecting it through the establishment of nature reserves such as the Daymaniyat island near Muscat, the turtle reserve at Rad al Jinz, the Land of Frankincense in Dhofar or the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Al Wusta. Oman is home to a range of fish species as well as dolphins and migrating

whales; together with intricate corals and unique species of seaweeds that support the marine eco system.

Oman presents an environment abundant with wildlife and close encounters of humans with the natural world, a perception

that has filtered into my works. The images of plants and animals in my artworks are cut out from single sheets of and are fused with one another therefore celebrating the close connectivity and interdependence between various life forms. The title of a new

series - The Air That I Breathe - depicts the close bond with creatures who inhabit the same space as us breathe the same air and the air exhaled by plants are inhaled by us. The human and natural worlds are closely interwoven in Oman.

Living in Oman has been a deeply spiritual experience for me. The sense of calm and tranquility in this country has been instrumental in the development and deepening of my artistic practice. It has been an internal journey rather than external sources of inspiration, a feeling fueled by an environment conducive to uninhabited art making.