Over a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasri Burman has developed a visual language drawn from mythology, nature, spirituality, and the feminine identity that is entirely her own. Her paintings and sculptures inhabit an imagined world populated by goddesses, animals, flowers, and folkloric figures, where traditional Indian visual motifs meet deeply personal narratives. With her first jewellery collection ‘Amlaan’, Bengali for ‘unfading’, Burman extends this universe into a new medium, translating the forms and motifs that have long defined her artistic practice into wearable objects of desire.

Presented alongside ‘Mukti’, a new exhibition of Burman’s paintings, her debut jewellery collection marks the culmination of an exploration that began almost a decade ago. Working closely with traditional artisans, Burman experimented with precious metals and stones, considering how jewellery — one of the oldest expressions of human creativity — could reinterpret the sculptural qualities of her work. The result is a collection that approaches adornment as an extension of her artistic expression.

“My journey into jewellery began with my love for sculpture and a curiosity about how the forms I created on canvas could take on a different life in another medium,” Burman says. “I had been experimenting with jewellery for almost a decade, exploring the possibilities of gold, silver and stones, and discovering how it could become something more intimate, something that could be worn close to the body, a miniature sculpture. I never set out to create a commercial collection; I wanted to explore and see where the process would lead me. With ‘Amlaan’, I feel the time has come to share that journey. Jewellery has opened a new dimension in my practice, allowing me to bring together painting, sculpture and craftsmanship in ways I had not imagined before. I hope to continue exploring this medium with the same curiosity and openness that first drew me to it.”

The collection draws from memories of Burman’s childhood in Bengal, where images and idols of the Mother Goddess, adorned with elaborate ornaments and crowns, formed part of her visual surroundings. These early impressions intersect with her enduring fascination with the natural world, from the intricate forms of flowers and foliage to the changing colours of the sky and reflections on water. Gold occupies a central place in ‘Amlaan’, alluding to ideas of permanence, purity, and the sacred in South Asia. Its luminosity also recalls what Burman describes as her signature ‘Indian yellow’, a colour she associates with auspiciousness, celebration, and sunlight. Mythological narratives, including those of Radha and Krishna, Shiva and Parvati, and the Rasa Leela, find expression alongside references to Durga, Shakti, and the forces of nature. Together, the exhibitions offer an opportunity to encounter Burman’s artistic vocabulary across different mediums, revealing how a visual language developed over decades can continue to evolve through new materials and forms of creative expression.

Presented jointly by Saffron Art, Chawla Art Gallery, and Snowball Studios, ‘Amlaan’ is on view at Snowball Studios, Mumbai, from 31 October to 11 November 2026. Running concurrently, ‘Mukti’ (31 October–15 November) brings together paintings exploring liberation, femininity, ecological fragility, and collective responsibility. Follow @jayasriburman, @snowball.studios, @saffronartindia, and @chawlaartgallery on Instagram.

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