Colour Coded

Art is a culmination of inner strife,’’ says artist Anjana Birla while talking about her art work,which reflect her emotional journey. The self-taught artist uses oil colours to express her emotions,with yellow,orange and hues of blue dominating the colour palette. In her first solo exhibition,she displays the works that have been done over the years. Birds find way into most of her works and are close to Birla’s heart. “I’ve been painting birds since childhood and am fascinated by their freedom. They can fly off anywhere without making any special arrangements,’’ says Birla,whose canvases depict love birds and white swans.

Inspired to paint by her family of artists,who painted film banners,Birla says that the use of bright colours comes from the influence of those banners and film posters. “We were given unlimited space and freedom to express,and in spite of many roadblocks,my passion for art never took a backseat,” says Birla,whose series on Buddha shows different moods of Buddha while charting out his spiritual journey,which she depicts in a beautiful colour scheme of copper,black,sliver and golden. “His eyes are simply mesmerising and I like to paint them closed,” says Birla,who has also done a couple of sculptures of Buddha in metal.

Another series has Birla’s works on some women she considers both successful and influential. With Indira Gandhi,Mother Teresa,Lata Mangeshkar,Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,Sania Mirza gracing the gallery space. A striking work is a painting of the Taj Mahal. “I took a photograph and then painted this abode of love,’’ says Birla.

The exhibition is on till December 26 at Punjab Kala Bhawan,Sector 16.