"From self into soul,
From fragment to whole,
Where seasons softly part,
Time gathers in the heart."
Harud: Autumn
Sari ID: 26 KOHL AUT AAM
By Seema Kohli
Collection: Journey and Exile
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Created by: Seema Kohli, New Delhi
Sari Details: Acrylics and silk Aari embroidery on custom-dyed Benares silk
Latest Exhibit: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (March 2026)
Includes: Blouse kit (materials for two blouses) and certificate of authenticity
Care: Dry clean only by a textile specialist
Status: Available for sale
The Artist
Seema Kohli is a contemporary Indian artist working across painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. Her work explores mythology, spirituality, and feminine iconography. She has held over 20 solo exhibitions internationally in Venice, Brussels, New York, Dubai, Singapore, and across India.
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The Inspiration
“Harud”, (meaning “autumn”), becomes a metaphor for transition, renewal, and layered identity.
At the heart of this sari lies the idea of Ardhanareeshwar, the union of masculine and feminine energies within a single form. This ancient Indian concept becomes a powerful lens through which Seema explores the fluidity of identity in the present day.
The work connects this philosophy with contemporary conversations around gender and selfhood. It reflects a world where identities are not fixed but constantly evolving, echoing the openness and plurality seen across cultures.
Autumn is not an ending. It is a moment of transformation, where shedding becomes renewal.
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From Sari to Art
Painting on silk posed unique challenges due to the fabric’s unpredictability and the flow of color. Unlike canvas, silk demands control without rigidity.
For Seema, the transition was intuitive. She approached the surface as she would a canvas, allowing forms to emerge organically while maintaining precision.
The imagery unfolds through layered compositions that balance structure and spontaneity, making the sari a moving canvas.
Message for the World
When someone wears this sari, Seema hopes they feel a connection between who they have been and who they are becoming.
It is a reflection of the past and present held together in a single flow.