Golden Symbols Amidst a Storm of Colours: British Artist Rob Hales Gifts Contemporary Masterpiece to Criminologist Snehil Dhall
“I titled the contemporary artwork “The Golden Swastik & OM,” created by British artist Rob Hales, which was gifted to me just a day prior to Shri Ram Navami 2026. Painted on a wooden canvas, the piece features radiant golden Hindu symbols — the Swastik and Om — standing untouched amid a storm of vibrant colours symbolising diversity, struggle, and resilience within Sanatani civilisation. The artwork reflects Hales’ independent artistic interpretation of me, and I am honoured that he associated me and my Sanatani philosophy with a contemporary touch. Created at his Mumbai studio before returning to the United Kingdom, the painting represents friendship, cultural respect, and the enduring strength of Hindu spiritual traditions.” ~ Criminologist Snehil Dhall
Mumbai: In a striking fusion of contemporary art and ancient spiritual symbolism, British artist Rob Hales has presented a remarkable painting titled “The Golden Swastik & OM” to Mumbai-based criminologist Snehil Dhall, founder of the global criminology firm Crimeophobia. The artwork, gifted just a day before the auspicious festival of Ram Navmi 2026, has already drawn attention for its powerful visual metaphor and cultural depth. Painted on a wooden canvas that Hales transformed into a vibrant artistic statement, the contemporary piece prominently features two radiant Hindu symbols — the Swastik and Om — rendered in luminous gold. These sacred icons remain pristine and untouched at the forefront of the artwork, standing resilient against a dramatic background of swirling, vibrant colours.
According to the artist, the painting reflects his independent artistic interpretation of Dhall and the broader philosophical strength of Sanatani traditions. While for Dhall, the background bursts with a spectrum of colours — saffron, green, red, blue, white, pink, and numerous other shades — symbolising the diversity, challenges, and energies that surround the Sanatani civilisational ethos. Yet despite the intense interplay of colours, the golden Swastik and Om remain unblemished, symbolising permanence and spiritual endurance. Receiving the gift, criminologist Snehil Dhall described the painting as a profound symbolic narrative.
“The artwork captures the chaos of colours surrounding the golden symbols, yet the Swastik and Om stand untouched. To me, it reflects the indestructible stability of the Golden Era of Hinduism and Sanatani civilisation. No matter what colour attempts to overshadow it, the brightness of the golden truth cannot be tarnished,” Dhall said. He also noted the subtle presence of red tones across the painting, which he interprets as representing the hardships and struggles that Sanatani Dharma has endured across history. Despite these adversities, the brilliance of the golden symbols continues to shine, much like the unwavering radiance of the sun.
The artist has also left what Dhall describes as a hidden artistic signature within the composition. Hales is known for deliberately avoiding conventional signatures on his paintings, a practice that Dhall refers to as the artist’s “No Signature Collection.” However, Dhall believes that Hales subtly embeds his identity through distinctive strokes of pink within the artwork — a personal artistic touch that serves as the painter’s quiet mark. For Dhall, the gift carries emotional and cultural significance beyond the canvas itself. “This is one of the most priceless gifts anyone has ever given me. Rob has honoured me in a very personal and artistic way,” he said.
The painting also marks an important moment in the artist’s journey. It was the final work created by Hales at “Studio 69,” his creative space located in his Mumbai residence at the Lodha complex neighbouring the Trump Tower. Hales is now preparing to depart Mumbai and return to the United Kingdom. His departure comes amid a period of global uncertainty affecting international travel routes, particularly airspace crossing through the Middle East. Concerns over geopolitical tensions, including developments involving American President Donald Trump’s policies in the region, have added unpredictability to flight paths between India and Europe. As Hales prepares to leave Mumbai, the painting stands not only as a cultural statement but also as a symbolic farewell — a golden testament to friendship, artistic expression, and the enduring resilience of Sanatani heritage. For Dhall, the artwork now represents both a personal honour and a philosophical reminder: amid the storms of colours, the golden core remains eternal.