Mauritius Students Prize

This painting started as a personal project to explore how classical painting techniques can be mixed with modern, light-hearted themes. The main inspiration came from my own dog, Poom, a brown dachshund, which can be seen on the piece itself! My goal was to create a strong contrast by placing playful, everyday subjects into a highly structured, historic European parlor setting. I began by sketching the room’s composition to master the interior perspective and dramatic lighting. During the painting process, I focused heavily on building realistic wood grain textures and fabric folds to make the environment feel serious and academic, which ultimately makes the sight of my dog and the other barking guests having a formal brunch even funnier. This project pushed my technical boundaries while allowing me to express a personal, youthful sense of humour

Music has accompanied me since childhood, and the violin has become more than an instrument—it has become a part of who I am. It is not simply something I play; it is something that has grown with me, accompanied my memories, shaped my discipline, made me cry and laugh, and given a voice to emotions that words cannot express. That artwork is a tribute to my lifelong companion, and a story written through brushstrokes and paint about My Violin and I.

This artwork portrays me as part of an underwater world, with my face transformed into cool blue tones with my flowing hair blending into waves algae and colourful flowers. I used scale to vary the size of the flower,creating depth and making the composition more dynamic. Surrounded by dolphins,fish, and coral, the artwork represents my connection with the beauty and mystery of the ocean.

Art work medium is digital, using layered shapes, bold outlines
and patterns using digital symmetry tools to create the
composition and used bright colors to express the beauty and
diversity of Mauritius.

The artwork shows a young boy doing a science test in a fun cartoon style. He is wearing a white lab coat and safety glasses while carefully mixing liquids in a test tube. Around him are different science tools, such as beakers, and bottles.

The artwork depicts a silent corridor with strong perspective, subtle shading, and atmospheric tones, creating a mysterious, peaceful, and slightly eerie environment.

This childhood self-portrait painting shows how the world is seen through a child’s eyes. While adults are always put down by negativity, children always try to be optimistic through hardship. This is shown through the use of darker background contrasting with the strong and bright lighting on the main figure. The girl in the painting is me as a child and I have incorporated my childhood drawings with oil pastel (a medium often used by children) to show how they see the world around them in a simpler and vivid way

Hair holds memories is a deeply personal exploration on how own hair carries our memories

This floral painting of peonies embodies the profound connection between womanhood and Mother Nature. Through a palette of vibrant colours, the artwork portrays femininity as an elemental and natural force of beauty.

Champions aren’t made when they stand. They’re made when they choose to rise. In the ring, we don’t just fight opponents- we fight doubt, pain, and the urge to quit. This painting captures the moment right after the fall. Sweat, exhaustion and the crowd roaring in the backgroung. But look closer. Hands reach out. A coach leans in. A voice shouts ”Get up”. It’s not about winning the round. It’s about resillience. It;s about people who lift us when we’re down, and the light we keep chasing even in our darkest round. Through bold colours and raw energy.

This artwork is a a humorous, surreal parody that mashes up art history icons on a dark brown background. Vermeer Girl with a pearl Earring on the left looking uncomfortable as a long haired bearded man was tring to steal her earring, while in the right Leonardo’s Mona Lisa is trying to stop him shouting expression and raised hand as if to stop him, all topped by a vibrant, graffiti-style multicolored sea turtle with paint splatters that constrast sharply with the classical figures.

The journey upstream reflects perserverance, growth, and the strength to keep moving forward

Verity explores the quiet truth that exists between shadow and
light; the two forces that shape every untamed soul. Through the
contrast of darkness and illumination, the painting reflects the
duality within us: instinct and reason, vulnerability and strength,
chaos and calm. The figures emerge from the shadows not as
creatures to be tamed, but as embodiments of freedom,
resilience and raw truth. Here, darkness is not the absence of
light; it is part of what gives the light its meaning.
Verity is the courage to embrace every part of ourselves, even
the shadows we carry!

The artwork explores the concept of a “painting within a painting”, transforming the inner mountain landscape into a mysterious portal that opens into a world beyond ordinary perception. The cold blues, snow covered peaks and still waters create an atmosphere of solitude, serenity and quiet wonder. The distant alpine landscape captures the timeless beauty of nature, where frozen lakes mirror the silence of towering mountains and ancient forests stand as silent guardians of the passage of time. In the fast-paced world we live in today, moments of stillness have become increasingly precious. This artwork invites viewers to pause, breathe and reconnect with themselves – reminding us that moments of peace, contemplation and awareness are essential for understanding both the world around us and the landscapes that exist within our own hearts. Encased within a dark, flowing abstract frame, the scene appears suspended between reality and imagination – like a dream preserved within another dimension. The contrast between the icy tranquillity of the inner landscape and the mysterious textures surrounding it symbolizes the delicate balance between serenity and the unknown, inviting viewers on a journey of reflection, exploration and discovery. Through this artwork, the landscape becomes more than a physical place. It becomes a state of mind – a hidden sanctuary where silence reveals emotions, memories and the unexplored depths of human experience.

A painting depicting a jaguar mother’s mature instincts, and the raw, inexperienced instinct of her offspring.

Description: “Threads of Heritage” is a vibrant painting that beautifully explores the concept of sovereignty through cultural preservation and generational bonds in Mauritius. Set against the majestic backdrop of Le Morne Brabant—a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience—the artwork depicts a grandmother passing down the art of knitting and a grandfather teaching his grandson to fish. By reclaiming and transmitting these traditional practices, the characters embody cultural autonomy and self-reliance, demonstrating that true sovereignty lies in the strength of family, identity, and the preservation of one’s heritage.

The elder’s fading flame quietly echoes life’s passing, while a new flame is kindled in the hands of youth. Between them, heritage flows onward—reminding us that time moves inevitably, yet what we leave behind may continue to shine.

My artwork is a mixed-media painting of a woman interwined with flowing water,waterfalls,marine life,mountains,a tree and a radiant sun.It symbolizes the deep connection between humanity and nature,representing life,harmony,renewal and the importance of protecting the environment.

The artwork demonstrates my self-image where am waiting alone in my own kitchen.

The painting shows a girl with colourful, vibrant hair covered in splashes of bright paint, representing the creativity and energy of the technological art era. My art depicts where I stanf in this modern world.

My artwork portrays children suspended within the haunting silence of war, their innocence suffocated by a reality they never chose. Their childhood, once meant to be filled with laughter, freedom and dreams, is overshadowed by fear and destruction. The doves emerge as symbols of peace, hope and liberation ,the fragile reminders of the freedom that has been torn away from them. They represent an imagined escape from a world that has stolen their innocence, carrying the silent longing for a future where children can simply be children again.

An ethernal riff opens over a forgotten me & us where ancient empires and cosmic tides collide.

This painting depicts a typical Mauritian kitchen, filled with the warmth and simplicity of a family home. At the centre, Nani Anita, the grandmother, prepares farata and cari poulet with her granddaughter. Around them are traditional cooking utensils, pots, containers and everyday kitchen objects, while the open window reveals the lush greenery and landscape of Mauritius, bringing the outside world into
The painting is inspired by my childhood memories. While I would play football with my cousins, my sister would stay in the kitchen helping Nani Anita prepare meals. Through this scene, I wanted to capture the warmth of those ordinary yet precious moments—the love between generations, family togetherness, Mauritian food, childhood memories and the passing down of traditions.

This artwork captures a local Mauritian market, focusing on a vendor at work. Fresh vegetables and ironwork stalls create a lively scene of weekly island life and familiar routines.

An oil painting on canvas with phosphorescent paint creates two worlds: a vibrant fantasy sunset in daylight and a glowing night scene in darkness. A small UV torch is passed across the artwork to activate the phosphorescent details and reveal its hidden nocturnal face at night.!

A detailed bird, resembling a thrush, golden-brown plumage, and a sharp beak. It sits amidst green leaves and clusters of round apples. A soft, blended green background with a subtle glow in the upper left corner, giving the piece a serene, natural atmosphere.

Inspired by Pablo Picasso

“Faith in Progress” is a vibrant painting that explores the journey of Mauritius through time, from the past to the present and towards the future. The artwork shows the old SSR Airport alongside the modern Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, representing the development and transformation of the country.
The Metro Express, roads and modern buildings symbolise progress, movement and new opportunities for future generations. The greenery and natural elements represent the beauty of Mauritius and the importance of protecting its environment.
Through this artwork, I wanted to show that progress is connected to our history. The combination of the past, present and future represents faith, hope and unity. It expresses my belief that Mauritius can continue to develop while preserving its heritage, culture and natural beauty.

This artwork also features a collage of a real piece of glass. This is a study of transparency of glass. With a canvas presented in front me , I had the thoughts that my creativity cannot simply only exist on a 2 dimensional scale. As such, I decided to incorporate the very thing I am studying into my actual artwork.

Inspired by the contemporary era through an Xray view.