It took 10 months for the artist to complete the collection for this exhibition. “It took six months to draw the designs and four months in the production process after which I was able to exhibit this collection,” said Bahl.
The collection comprises of printmaking and digital printing on the drawings, etchings, textile wall art, sarees and apparel.
Bhal explained the process of printmaking. She said, “In printmaking, we make stencils and spread the ink through them. The stencil is open in the middle according to the design we want to make. So, when the ink is spread on it, it goes through the fabric and imprints the desired design on it.”
The printmaking on the sarees, kurtas and jackets made by the artist gave it a simple and fresh look. The sleeves of kurtas and jackets were long and lose, and the embroidery done at the end of the sleeves from inside, gave it the look of a kimono sleeve. The ‘designer’ explained, “The design for these sleeves is taken from the traditional Japanese dress.” She kept her collection simple with minimal work to make it every day wear.
A kimono jacket made up of tussar silk with basic printing and light thread work gave it a classy look, which every girl would like to have.
The designer believes in making garments out of natural fabric. According to her, “My collection is made up of natural fabric like cotton, linen, silk, silk organza, et al.”
The collection of her sarees was in different colours with prints of animals, birds and flowers. According to Bhal, “Nature has been a constant inspiration and theme behind my work. Enso is my expression of how I see and feel the world around me today.”
If Zen Buddhism is to be believed, Enso means is a circle that is hand-drawn in uninhibited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create. The enso symbolises absolute enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and mu (void).
In her collection, Bahl not only had garments but also had drawings and etchings which was made on copper. She explained the process, “Firstly, the design is drawn on a copper plate and then it is printed on a press. These are traditional fine art.”
She also had digital paintings in the collection. According to her, “The designs which are very large and complicated are made from digital paintings. In digital paintings, any colour can be used on designs.”
One of her textile wall art which was made up of wood was an quite exquisite. The design was made by carving the wooden piece with a knife. It can be a perfect wall décor.
“This exhibition is a journey of my life, from a drawing to the textile.it is an expression of how far a drawing can go and a constant redefining of my sense of art,” Bhal concluded.