Seeking spiritual equilibrium through the creation of art is one of its very prominent strengths, believes Lakshmi Nambiar, the director of Shrishti Art Gallery. Throwing light on the show, she says, “An artist dwells deep into the vicinities of the mind and soothes all the creases internally to reach at a deeper understanding of the ‘self’. And after the work is displayed, it becomes a doorway to myriad thought processes and experiences for the viewers. As a part of the gallery’s 16th anniversary celebrations, we are delighted to present this spiritually inclined series of works rendered by local as well as artists from to other cities, under the show titled, Spirit and Matter.”
Water by Seema Kohli
Quite in sync with the theme of the show, all the works on display unveil the journeys of a group of artists while exploring their intrinsic, thoughtful ideas and visions. The acrylic and ink work on canvas by Seema Kohli is instantly noteworthy. The artist has created a vast space that imbibes multiple gradations of blue. Titled Water, the work is rich in intricate patterns as well as bold washes. It beautifully exemplifies the significance of water to all forms of life. The painting can be perceived as a magnified version of a single drop of water or a wide shot of a swirling sea wave — both equally precious for the sustenance of life.
Khat (letter) by Shruti Mahajan.
On the other hand, Ketaki Pimpalkhare, who also explores the concept of life and existence from a stylistically rich stance, tells about one of her exhibited works, called Underwater. “We live, we die, but life goes on. This world is full of surprises and as we look underwater, life finds its own way to survive. I paint this world as if it has survived an apocalypse. We have consumed it all and now life comes back in a form that is familiar to us but also looks strange and has a new identity,” she says.
Equally intriguing works by Shuchi Mehta have been created from nylon threads on canvas. The horizontally running, iridescently-hued lines are composed together and create a fantastical visual appearance. Titled Interspace, the multiple parallel lines in with varied hues unveil balanced and serene yet ecstatic intensity of colour.
Interspace by Shuchi Mehta
Local artist, Shruti Mahajan, who has exhibited four mixed-media works, tells us about the concepts of her art: “My works weave together contrasting ideas and images together. One of my works titled Khat (letter) has been executed using carbon paper and white paper along with drawing and stitching. I consider a letter as a nomad as it travels in between its starting point and its destination. And yet another meaning for the word letter is ‘alphabets’, which make words and can initiate varied emotions and feelings. My work talks about such metaphorical significances of forms and processes in life.”
