Photos courtesy Reena Ahluwalia
A hyper-realistic painting by Toronto-based jewellery designer and artist Reena Ahluwalia aims to return a legendary diamond to its admirers, via a digital art NFT.
Two years in the making, the ‘Koh-i-Noor Diamond’ artwork depicts, on canvas, the 105.6-carat, Type IIA Koh-i-Noor (‘Mountain of Light’) Diamond. The gem, which is of Indian origin, formed billions of years ago and has witnessed 750 years of human history.
“My interpretation of Koh-i-Noor diamond is imagination combined with my diamond knowledge, and how light could reflect on facets considering its geometry,” Ahluwalia says. “More importantly, I wanted to capture its true essence and symbolism.”
A widely travelled gem, Koh-i-Noor has passed through the hands of the Mughals emperors, Persian Shahs, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Maharajas of Punjab, the artist explains. In 1849, when the Punjab Region of India was annexed, the stone was taken into the British Crown Jewels, where it has remained since.
“My connection to Koh-i-Noor is perhaps similar to children growing up in South Asia, hearing about the lore and star-status of the Koh-i-Noor,” Ahluwalia says. “My mother would call my siblings and I, her ‘Koh-i-Noor’—her expression simply means we are her most precious gems. As a jewellery designer and artist, I have the privilege to hold some of the most coveted and historic diamonds, but not the elusive Koh-i-Noor. For as long as I can remember, I knew I had to paint the Koh-i-Noor—it was my lifelong dream.”
The NFT has been released by Ahluwalia as a limited edition of 50. Merging art, jewellery history, and technology, the offering ensures the enduring legacy and accessibility of the diamond on the blockchain, she explains.
“I want to preserve the legend and legacy of Koh-i-Noor through my painting and imprint it on the blockchain for perpetuity as a digital artwork,” Ahluwalia says. “I want to give back the Koh-i-noor to people, back to all who think it belongs to them.”
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