THREE PORTRAITS OF SIKH GURUS
Punjab, Northern India, late 20th century

Crushed gemstones like low-grade rubies and sapphires, pebbles, coloured sand, gold dust, opaque pigments and ink on wooden board, comprising three portraits of renowned Sikh gurus, specifically Guru Nanak Dev (1469 - 1539), the founder of Sikhism; Guru Arjan Dev (1563 – 1606), the first of the two Gurus martyred in the Sikh faith; and the last Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh (1666 - 1708), born Gobind Rai, a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher; the portrait of Guru Nanak Dev marked twice with the Ik Onkar, also spelled Ek Onkar, the Sikh phrase denoting the one supreme reality, mounted on a frame, each 40cm x 30.5cm.