Mother Mary pin from India: Clyde D’Mello

This small devotional pin belonged to Clyde D’Mello’s grandmother, a Mangalorean Catholic woman who wore it on her sari for protection. The image of Mary at its center reflects a cultural and devotional affinity within his community, where faith is often carried on the body.
He remembers the pin as a constant presence during his childhood—whether she was taking him to the market or oiling his hair. While his grandmother rarely spoke of the pin, the care with which she wore it suggests a deep intersection of belief and affection. Through this object, her composure and protectiveness continue to persist in Clyde’s memory.

Clyde D’Mello, an artist whose work explores self-portraiture, memory, and philosophy through a dynamic blend of mediums, was born in Bombay and raised in Bahrain. His experiences of cultural displacement and personal transformation deeply inform his art, which often delves into themes of identity, mysticism, and the passage of time.