Fragments of Time – Great Indian Bustard by S Jayaraj

In this powerful and thought-provoking mixed-media piece, S. Jayaraj reimagines the Great Indian Bustard through a striking fusion of watercolour wash and torn paper collage. The bird's tall, dignified silhouette rises directly out of a dense mosaic of newsprint fragments, typography, and architectural imagery, most notably featuring visible snippets of newspaper columns and headings like 'TIME' and 'real estate.' Jayaraj uses the tactile collage technique to symbolize how modern civilization, urbanization, and land development press directly against the fragile habitats of critically endangered species. The bustard itself, rendered with sharp ink outlines and expressive highlights, stands alert amidst the noise of print, a monumental sentinel warning us of lost habitats and the swift march of time.