In his solo after 15 years, Delhi-based artist Ompal Sansanwal showcases works on nature, mythology

Born in 1964 in Katwaria Sarai, Delhi, Ompal Sansanwal’s bond with nature was forged in the shadows of ancient peepal trees in his neighbourhood.

Delhi, artist Ompal Sansanwal, nature, mythology, Jiva, Bikaner House,

For artist Ompal Sansanwal, 60, it was a visit to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in 2017 that sparked one of his most captivating works that is currently on display at the Bikaner House. In black and white, the canvas depicts a scene where numerous birds rest upon water or take flight across the expansive sky. In the backdrop, towering trees stretch endlessly, with mountains looming beyond, symbolising the vastness of nature.

Recalling his visit, Sansanwal describes how he found himself amid the fluttering wings and melodious chirps of the avian inhabitants. “I was just observing the birds, and I felt that it was the wedding of these two birds sitting right in the centre, and all the other birds flying around were invited for the wedding,” says Sansanwal, who mirrors the intricate and in-depth observations onto his work that took him more than six months.

In another of Sansanwal’s paintings, his profound affection for trees is evident as he depicts Lord Krishna effortlessly balancing a mountain with one finger while playing the flute with grace. Below, a scene from the Mahabharata unfolds, with worshippers honouring Krishna, while in the distance, figures on elephants are seen preparing for the battle.

Sansanwal, Delhi, artist Ompal Sansanwal, nature, mythology, Jiva, Bikaner House,

Amid the tales of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana narrated by his mother and grandmother, Sansanwal’s childhood was immersed in nature. (Express Photo)

Born in 1964 in Katwaria Sarai, Delhi, Sansanwal’s bond with nature was forged in the shadows of ancient peepal trees in his neighbourhood. Amid the tales of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana narrated by his mother and grandmother, Sansanwal’s childhood was immersed in nature.

From childhood, he had a passion for drawing, but it was only after he enrolled at the Delhi College of Art that he truly immersed himself in art, sketching tirelessly day and night. Gradually, he began to weave intricate designs of nature with elements from mythology. “I worked really hard and made a lot of figures and experimented a lot. I finally figured out my style of art,” says Sansanwal.

The exhibition titled “Jiva” at Bikaner House comes 15 years after Sansanwal’s last solo. (Express Photo)

It was not just nature that inspired him; it was the fusion of nature and human form that ignited his creativity. Once, while driving through Delhi, he recalls, “I saw two trees that looked like a couple. With these as inspirations, I tend to weave them with the mythological stories told to me by my mother when I was a kid,” says Sansanwal.

The exhibition titled “Jiva” at Bikaner House comes 15 years after his last solo. In his solo after 15 years, Delhi-based artist Ompal Sansanwal features 60 acrylic and ink works. Presented by Sanya Malik’s Black Cube Gallery, it is curated by Uma Nair. “When you look at Ompal’s work, you know that he could not have done these works if he was not immersed in the subject. His works are hymns to humanity, they touch you in a way nothing ever has before.”

The exhibition is on till May 3.

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