Pavan Kavitkar
Dreams on Sale, 2026
Watercolor and gouache on paper
111 x 180.5 cm
43 3/4 x 71 in
43 3/4 x 71 in
Copyright The Artist
Further images
Dream on Sale is a narrative painting rooted in the agrarian reality of Paratwada, where small farmers practice mixed cropping to maximize yield from limited land. At the center, an...
Dream on Sale is a narrative painting rooted in the agrarian reality of Paratwada, where small farmers practice mixed cropping to maximize yield from limited land. At the center, an orange orchid stands alongside a cotton crop, symbolizing resilience, hope, and the delicate balance of survival. This traditional farming practice reflects the farmer’s wisdom, yet it exists under constant social and financial pressure. The painting reveals the harsh truth of land being sold due to economic distress and unavoidable social obligations, such as a daughter’s marriage. A modest lower-middle-class marriage mandap appears in the background, representing responsibility and sacrifice. A small green mandala symbolizes life, continuity, and fading harmony with nature. Adjacent to it lies a piece of land sold to a builder, shown under construction, marking the slow erasure of agricultural identity. Together, these visual elements narrate the social struggle of small farmers, exposing land politics, forced trade, and the emotional cost of development.
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