Motihari: International sand artist Madhurendra, from Ghorasahan block in East Champaran, has once again attracted attention with an unusual artistic experiment, this time turning ordinary leaves into a canvas for portraits of BRICS leaders.
Instead of using a conventional canvas, the artist created detailed portraits of the leaders of the nine BRICS member countries on leaves commonly used for serving food at community meals.
Through the artwork, Madhurendra sought to welcome the visiting global leaders and convey a message of peace, hospitality and international cooperation.
‘Welcome to India’ Message Through Leaf Art
As leaders from BRICS countries arrived in India for the summit, Madhurendra shared his artwork on social media with a “Welcome to India” message.
The unusual artwork combines India’s traditional association with natural materials and the contemporary global significance of the BRICS summit.
15 Days of Work to Create Detailed Portraits
According to Madhurendra, the project took around 15 days of painstaking work.
Creating facial details on the uneven surface of leaves required precision, particularly while reproducing the eyes, hair, facial outlines and expressions of the leaders.
The artist used the delicate surface of the leaves to create recognisable portraits while maintaining the natural character of the unusual canvas.
Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Among Portraits
The leaf artwork features Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Portraits of other BRICS leaders were also included in the collection.
Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia Represented
The artwork also features Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Together, the nine portraits represent the BRICS countries included in Madhurendra’s artistic tribute.
Artist Aims to Spread Message of Global Brotherhood
Madhurendra said the purpose of the artwork was not merely to create portraits of international leaders.
He wanted to use art as a medium to communicate India’s traditional spirit of hospitality, peace and global cooperation to audiences around the world.
The leaf portraits were therefore conceived as an artistic welcome to the leaders attending the BRICS summit in India.
Madhurendra Known for Experimental Art
Madhurendra is known for experimenting with unconventional materials and surfaces.
Over the years, he has created artworks using sand, soil, coal ash, peepal leaves and vegetables, moving beyond traditional canvases to explore different forms of artistic expression.
His latest BRICS artwork continues that tradition, combining an unconventional natural canvas with portraits of prominent global leaders.
For Madhurendra, the leaf artwork is another example of how traditional and natural materials can be used to communicate contemporary messages of friendship and international cooperation.
