The Afterlife of Mughal Beauty: Motifs, Textiles, and the Taj Mahal | Art Indica Ep 5

In this episode of Art Indica, Dr. Alka Pande and Nidheesh explore how Mughal aesthetics continue to live on long after the empire itself. Framed as the “afterlife of beauty,” the conversation traces the journey of Mughal design—from pietra dura in the Taj Mahal to floral motifs, paisley forms, carpets, and brocades that remain embedded in contemporary culture.The episode highlights how Mughal art emerged through a confluence of Persian, Central Asian, and Indian traditions, and how these forms moved from royal ateliers into everyday life—shaping textiles, fashion, interiors, and visual language across centuries.It also reflects on questions of memory, identity, and whether such deeply embedded cultural legacies can ever be erased.Part of the 500 Years of Mughal Arts. Season 1 of Art Indica