Durhailay is an artist, musician and composer based in Oxfordshire, UK. Durhailay’s distinctive synthesis of historical and contemporary tropes of Indian and European painting come together through his body of work. Durhailay’s paintings re-envision the rich history of Indian Mughal miniature painting. Spanning back to 1526, when the Mughal Empire (a dynasty that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries) Inspired by such Mughal miniatures seen during childhood visits to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Durhailay was drawn to the realism in these paintings rarely seen in other forms of Indian art. Later, while studying, Durhailay recalls how he grew an interest in the contemporary art world, although quickly acknowledged that there was ‘a lack of representation of the Indian culture, of its diversity. And more particularly of the Sikh Indian culture.’ Rooted in the circle around him, Durhailay’s works depict those close to him: friends, family and members of the Sikh community. All of the included works incorporate natural stone pigments on wasli or handmade hemp paper; with the final details – beards, eyebrows, eyelashes and shadows – carefully applied with watercolour.