Colour Flight

Photo colours on hand-made paper is Wagh’s medium of preference,and she loves the bright effect these colours afford her. She also takes a keen interest in Kathak and it was while watching Kathak legend Birju Maharaj perform that she gained this unique artistic perspective of hers. “I saw him perform a piece in which he was depicting a peacock. His movements,orchestrated by the music,made a big impression on me. Besides being the national bird,I feel the peacock is a very important aspect of our culture. Lord Krishna is always depicted with a peacock and Goddess Sasarwati is too.”

She feels that be it paintings or rangoli,the peacock has been well represented. “Everything about the peacock feather is beautiful. The fine lines,the shades of blue and the glimmer of the feather makes it a very good subject.”

At the age of three,she won her first prize for a painting. “Coincidentally,I had drawn a peacock,” says Wagh,adding that it was her father who sparked off the artist in her from an early age. “He used to take me to diffeent drawing competitions,” she recalls.

Wagh wasn’t always a full-time artist,but around the year 2006 she decided to follow her heart. “I used to work in the advertising industry. I was satisfied with my job but then this idea had always been in my head and I could never find the time to put it on canvas. I guess we all come to that point in our lives when we have to decide what we really want to do,” she says.

For her,painting is more than an interest,it is something that rejuvenates her. “I know that a lot of people say that painting is a stress-buster but for me it is just refreshing. I remember right after my daughter was born my mother used to keep telling me to sleep and take rest. But I used to paint in the night,while she would be asleep. It would really get rid of the exhaustion,” says she. Although she held an exhibition based on the same topic in Bengaluru last year,Pune’s exhibition will showcase a lot of her new work. “The painting titled ‘Love Birds’ shows two peacocks in love,and is one of the paintings that will be seen for the first time here,” says Wagh.

(Dnyati Wagh’s solo painting exhibition ‘Mayur’ is being held at Malaka Spice,Koregaon Park,till June 15,from 11am to 11:30 pm)