Doors — they are everywhere around us. And these very objects became my inspiration. When I used to cycle to college in Kumbakonam, I passed by different kinds of doors and each held behind them many tales about people living within. They facinate me. I see a unique beauty in them. So I started painting door s and slowly it became my passion. Every time I travel, my eyes first search for doors. Mentioned here are a few interesting doors that caught my attention:
When I went to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, I was looking at the temple, and couldn’t find any doors. Later I stumbled upon this stunning stone door. The carvings were so beautiful and I wondered whether it was possible to do so much work on stone.
Among the high rises and glitzy skyline of Singapore I found these colourful doors interspersed by golden columns. It’s so vibrant that hardly anyone travelling to Singapore can miss it.
This is the door of a pan shop in Thimphu, Bhutan. I really liked the colours they have used. But I wonder why they used so many locks just for a beeda shop.
The red door against a marble background makes for a charming photograph. This was in Beijing and to me it depicts the Chinese culture.
This door in Karaikudi is 100 years old. The design is awesome. There are only two of this kind in the entire region. Back in the day, this was done by a single carpenter for over seven years. And the salary he got out of making this door —food and place to stay till he finished the work.
I found this door is in Mattancherry, Kochi, one of my favourite places. This is like my painting on a big canvas.
This door is in a remote village near Nawalgarh, Rajasthan. In this region they paint Shekhawati mural on the walls of their houses. The colours they use are vibrant and I was very happy to discover these artistic wonders hidden in our country.
Another red door. I love the colour. This door is in Hanoi, Vietnam. The composition of this picture is interesting — the light flowing through the doors into the dark interiors caught my attention. This is similar to the doors in our country.
Mahansar, Rajasthan — That’s where I found this door. It guards the entrance to a huge house which is now in ruins. Despite being rundown there seems to be something majestic about the door.
Artist Santhana Krishnan has painted more than 800 doors.