…Baby bear, I’ve been meaning to share some wonderful news with you. In August 2022, I, too, adopted a baby—her name is Kewpie. Like how some people paint large, tender portraits of their newborn, I’ve been immersed in making several paintings of her on my specially prepared surfaces of chalk powder and gum arabic.

More than that, I find myself deeply feeling the volumes of her tiny round tummy, her soft thighs, the puff of her sleeves, and the delicate textures of her lacy fabrics—fabrics with pastel blue flowers and old rose pink buds that I can almost smell, almost taste. These feelings are slowly becoming sculptural iterations as well. Everything about her is incredibly tender, soft, and balmy.

I truly hope she can meet you when we’re back in India. I would love for her to become your friend.

I’ve been wanting to scratch, mark, drip paint, rip then sew again, stick, layer, dig, drop, lick, smell, and poke—in the hope of touching you babies once more. As if each of these gestures matters just as much as what they become.

As you lift your arms in that familiar hug-angle, I hug you back.

Yours lovingly,

Div