Brush with Tradition

Her art is inspired by Indian miniature,traditional symbols and images from the folk art of Bihar,Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Sandhya Shrivastava likes to paint in vibrant shades and lend a contemporary look to work that has reflections of the Indian ethos. “I work with both oil and mixed media and like to create a fusion that has no distinct foreground or background,” says Shrivastava,who teaches art in a school in Sangrur. The Bharat Bhawan,Bhopal,alumni points out that keen interest in traditional Indian forms led her to conceptualise her debut solo exhibition that is on at Alliance Française.

Female figures dominate her work. The artist attributes this to her belief that women hold a home together. So Maharo Desh has Rajasthani girls decorating their house and fetching water late at night and fisherwomen busy completing their routine work. Reflections of Madhubani art are evident in Sevia and Krishnotsav and Back to Home depicts the Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh,returning to their house after grazing animals. “The aim is to depict the art of various states in my own style.

I have added new elements to each form,” says Shrivastava.

The exhibition is on till October 29.