In Full Bloom

“I have always been mystified by the divine interplay of colours in nature. They breathe life into our world,” says artist Alaka Bhandiwad,who will be showcasing her works at the Darpan Art Gallery from September 7-13. This Mumbai-based artist gains inspiration from the ethereal colours of the rainbow,icy blue tones of the sea,fresh green tones of trees and the placid murkiness of lotus ponds. “My series of painting is themed ‘Sacred Lotus’ because the lotus,in many ways,captures the essence of nature’s undying vitality that has inspired some of the world’s greatest minds like Rabindranath Tagore and the famous impressionist Monet,” says she. The lotus is our National flower and is considered sacred by quite a few religions across the globe. “According to Egyptian lore,the lotus is believed to have given birth to the sun and it is also the only flower which can germinate after 1300 years of dormancy,” she adds. The lotus represents the Hindu principles of Satyam,Shivam,Sundaram which mean truth,auspiciousness and beauty,as it is worshipped as the cradle in which Lord Brahma and Vishnu were born.

At the age of 35,Bhandiwad decided to give up her career as a commercial artist and started painting purely for passion. “When we shifted to Bengaluru due to my husband’s job transfer,it became very difficult for me to keep my passion for painting alive and handle my job simultaneously,” she says. “At that time,Bengaluru was full of flowers and greenery which inpired me to do what I am passionate about – paint for my soul,” she adds. Flowers have fascinated this artist ever since she was a child. And it was in 1995 that she put up her first exhibition of flower,landscapes and figurative paintings at Balgandharva Rangmandir. Her expertise lies in using the palette knife; the brush has been discarded by her. “When you look at my paintings,you will see that I do not mix colours. I prefer to keep the intensity of each colour intact. I apply them directly on the canvas,without mixing them on the palette,” says Bhandiwad.

She travels extensively owing to her husband’s job and she uses this to her advantage. “I pick up inspiration for my paintings from all the places I visit. Aurangabad especially fills me with creativity,” she smiles.