Aruna
Aruna
Aruna, Sanskrit for the red of dawn. The first warm light before sunrise, when the whole sky turns to red.
A tall panel on a red ground, worked in almost every technique the studio uses. French knots, cross stitch and running stitch build the ground. Gold bugle beads gather in raised clusters, strips of printed and plain cloth are appliquéd and bound, and loose white threads drift across the top like roots or rivers. The eye travels down its length the way it would follow a path through a landscape.
Read from top to bottom, the panel moves like a journey. A bound ribbon of black and red winds through the whole length, passing fields of white knots, gold clusters, latticed grids and pools of violet and blue.
Plate IV of the Abstract Collection by Shantnu Sihag Dhul.
Size: 62 x 25 in (157.5 x 63.5 cm)
Medium: Hand embroidery in thread with glass seed and bugle beads and appliquéd printed cloth on a red woven ground
Presentation: Natural wood box frame, float mounted, open face without glass
Made at: KURU studio, Gurugram, India
Complimentary shipping within India. For delivery outside India, message the studio on WhatsApp at +91 93072 00002 and we will arrange crated export shipping with a freight quote for your location.
The Story
Aruna is Sanskrit for the red of dawn: the first warm light before sunrise, when the whole sky turns to red. It is a tall panel on a red ground, worked in almost every technique the studio uses. French knots, cross stitch and running stitch build the ground. Gold bugle beads gather in raised clusters, strips of printed and plain cloth are appliquéd and bound, and loose white threads drift across the top like roots or rivers. The eye travels down its length the way it would follow a path through a landscape.Read from top to bottom, the panel moves like a journey. A bound ribbon of black and red winds through the whole length, passing fields of white knots, gold clusters, latticed grids and pools of violet and blue. Gold bugle beads are packed into small raised mounds, set in rows like stones in a field, while grey and pale pink beads gather around them in loose drifts and a single beaded gold line wanders across the whole panel. Running stitch, cross stitch, chain and French knots sit side by side, each field given its own rhythm, and strips of printed cloth bound at the edge make the textile itself part of the drawing.
Aruna is Plate IV of the Abstract Collection, created under the artistic direction of Shantnu Sihag Dhul, trained at Istituto Marangoni and Rubelli Venice. Each artwork is entirely hand embroidered, and the intricacy of materials and technique means no two pieces can ever be truly identical. Every artwork carries its own character, impossible to replicate exactly by hand, and is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity.
The Artwork
Each piece is entirely hand-embroidered by master artisans, using techniques passed through generations. Because every stitch is done by hand, small variations between pieces are part of its character — not a flaw, but a signature of authentic craftsmanship.
Care Instructions
Dust gently with a soft, dry brush or microfibre cloth — never a wet cloth or liquid cleaner — and keep the piece away from direct sunlight and high humidity to preserve embroidery colour and thread integrity. Handle it by its frame rather than the embroidered surface itself, and for any deep cleaning, consult a textile conservator rather than attempting to wash or iron it.
Shipping & Delivery
As each artwork is made to order, please allow for the hand-embroidery timeline shown above before dispatch. Once ready, pieces are carefully packed and shipped via courier, with tracking shared as soon as your piece is on its way.
Framing & Installation
Artworks arrive ready to hang, framed and secured. For larger pieces, we recommend professional installation, hung away from direct sunlight and heat sources to preserve the embroidery over time.