SHARBAT GULA – The Tapestry Painting

Internationally acclaimed tapestry-artist Puja Bhakoo is a native of India. A senior creative and advertising professional, Puja experimented with several mediums for creative expression and found her forte in creating handcrafted tapestries. In the 1990s, Puja Bhakoo reinvented the art of Needle Point by lending this European art form a unique indo-ethnic dimension. In 2012, Puja Bhakoo took premature retirement from her advertising career to pursue her auxiliary interests, including charity. She volunteered in different charitable organizations besides extending free designing support to various NGOs. TAPESTRY-FOR-CHARITY Initiative: In 2015, looking out for funding options for her charitable pursuits, Puja Bhakoo had a eureka moment. Being an avid embroiderer, she decided to use her PASSION for embroidery to fund her MISSION for charity. She then founded Tapestry-For-Charity — an initiative that utilizes proceeds from the sale of her tapestries to aid the education and rehabilitation of underprivileged children. So every time someone buys a Puja Bhakoo Handcrafted Tapestry, an underprivileged child is able to live better. And that, according to Puja Bhakoo, is the most fulfilling part of doing what she does. According to the artist, her journey through Tapestry-For-Charity is symbolic of IKIGAI – the Japanese concept, which is a meeting ground of what you love (your passion), what the world needs (your mission), what you’re good at (your vocation) and what you get paid for (your profession). Today Puja Bhakoo’s environmentally sustainable tapestries enjoy a global clientele and are showcased at some of India’s premium home furnishing stores. She also holds solo exhibitions of her artworks from time to time. Besides being a tapestry-artist and an ad professional, Puja Bhakoo is also a creative writer, a blogger, and an award-winning poet. She’s currently authoring a book, which will be an anthology of her write-ups, poems, and life experiences.