Holistic Hues

It is often said that being in the company of erudite people rubs off effectively. That has been the case with Artemisia Maria Carrano,the youngest daughter of Greek-Lebanese fashion designer Alecca Carrano. The 10-year-old made her debut as an artist with a two-day exhibition which began on Monday,along with her French teacher Myriam Crolle Paren,50,at Galerie Romain Rolland in Alliance Francaise in Delhi. “I have known Artemisia for quite long. She is quite talented and loves painting and drawing. She has a good idea of proportion. In fact,she is so good that I recommended her to begin painting on canvas,” says Paren,who has been teaching Carrano since 2006.

Titled “Buddhas and Turbans”,the exhibition comprises 29 bejewelled Buddhas and 19 colourful turbaned faces in acrylic,that were painted at Paren’s Delhi residence. “The exhibition was not on our mind initially. When the body of work grew,we decided to share the images,” says Paren. To their benefit,few paintings,pegged between Rs 4,000 and Rs 15,000,have already been reserved. Carrano’s work begin at Rs 2,000 and go up to Rs 8,000. Meanwhile,Paren’s 18 years of experience as a visual merchandiser also came in handy when she suspended the works at the gallery.

While Paren’s exposure to Buddha was in a Bangkok monastery,Carrano found her inspiration (turbans and faces) on the Capital’s streets and in Rajasthan. “I like painting with a lot of colour and put all my imagination on canvas,” says Carrano.

The turbaned faces,delightfully titled Baag of the Jungle,Diwana and Modigliani,among others,reflect men on the street — a brown face with a green turban and pointy bearded chap with a purple striped turban. Carrano reveals that she began with lotuses and Ganeshas and progressed to turbans. “I am very happy,excited and a bit nervous,” giggles the cutesy Carrano. Paren’s serene Buddhas are ranged against yellow,midnight blue and a grey background.