Kushana Bush draws on a range of art traditions in her intricate paintings, including Mughal and Persian miniatures, Japanese ukiyo-e, European frescoes and medieval illuminated manuscripts. Kushana blends these references with disarming and often funny contemporary details, such as branded sneakers and other familiar objects from popular culture, to create mesmerising works with fascinating, enigmatic narratives.

Glukupikron displays Kushana’s distinctive use of meticulous detail, shallow perspective and decorative patterning. Ancient Greek poet Sappho was known for her lyric poetry and used the word Glukupikron to denote the bittersweet nature of Eros – the way love entices you with sweet pleasure but can also cause bitter pain. It is an apt title for this work that is at once tense, comical, alluring and grotesque.

(Perilous: Unheard Stories from the Collection, 6 August 2022- )