Sanjhi Paper Art

Sanjhi is the temple art of Mathura — intricate stencils cut from paper to make rangoli of Krishna’s life on the water and floor.

I cut with a pair of scissors made specially for us, holding the folded paper and cutting patterns so fine that a whole scene appears when it opens, like a held breath.

This was once a dying temple craft. By making cut-paper artworks people can frame, I keep the scissors moving and the story of Braj alive.