Medallion 9- Bharhut Series

 Medallion Style: Animal

This medallion stands apart for its unique treatment of the lotus. At the center, the bloom is surrounded by a single row of petals alternated with feeler-like tentacles, giving the flower an otherworldly quality.

Beyond this central circle lies a border alive with swans in motion. Each bird is captured in a different act: some peck at the ground, one bends back to nibble its own tail plumes, while two others confront each other, bills crossing as if in a quarrel. Their varied poses suggest a progression of time, almost like a narrative sequence circling the lotus.

Instead of a solid molding, I introduced wavy lines to evoke rippling water—transforming the composition into a pond where swans move and interact around a lotus in bloom.

For me, this medallion captures not just symbolism but a glimpse of life—where the sacred lotus and the everyday rhythm of swans coexist in the same frame.

Information & Reference Image Credit- Remains of Bharhut Stupa in Indian Museum by Arabinda Ghosh

Original medallion

Behind the scenes