I liked this painting because of its combination of natural and mythological imagery. The woman, presumably some kind of nymph goddess tends to her underwater flock. She nurtures and pollenates the many creatures with her far-reaching powers. The Phoenix she is able to summon surveys the outside world for her and acts as an intermediary between the two realms. She could also be protecting the bird from the sea creature that appears in the bottom right hand corner. It looks hungry. Tears of some sort descend from the ocean surface which all the creatures seemed fixed on. I like the association with ancient civilisations like Atlantis that figure prominently into this type of lore. The artist likes to combine two very different types mythological history. From my limited knowledge of Indian/Hindu legend there doesn’t appear to be much association with the maritime tradition. The obvious Hindu influence on the female figure makes her seem out of place but the background is adjusted to accommodate that. The colors or the woman and the bird are striking; they pop out like nothing else. Her arm becomes one with the bird as it searches for the surface. A potential metaphor for purity and salvation from the depths of the ocean. She appears to the origin for some of the oceans plants which flow from her dress. They all curl like her arm towards the surface searching for the light they need. She’ll have to return to the palace looming in the background. As the guardian of life in the ocean she has many responsibilities to the ecosystem. The piece is innovative because it combines two very different traditions. The product is both a intricate story and an aesthetic masterpiece.