Mixed-media collage 'Parvati - Hindu Goddess' by Chila Kumari Burman, 2017, showing the Hindu goddess Parvati, highly embellished on a reflective silver background. The frame embellished with mirror pieces.

Made of giclee print, paper, folded paper stickers, plastic beads, fabric shapes, felt bindis, rhinestones, peacock feather, metallic leaves, stickers

The Hindu goddess Parvati also manifests as Saraswati, goddess of learning, and therefore science and wisdom. One of 29 works produced by Burman as a commission to accompany the Science Museum’s ‘Illuminating India’ season in 2017-18. Three works feature Parvati.

This display featured representations of all religions indigenous to India. The works respond to objects and narratives in the history of science in India particularly to the exhibition ‘5000 Years of Science and Innovation’, as well as to the wider religious and cultural history of the sub-continent. This was Burman's first significant engagement with the history of science and medicine, with the works ranging across print, collage, photography and mixed-media, including experiments with iPad technology.