The Indian Connection

The duo is showcasing their works at “Souls of India”,an exhibition currently on at Art2Day Gallery,Hyatt Regency,till April 14.

When Petitjean was in her twenties,a visit to the Rodin Museum in Paris made her fall in love with the art of sculpting. This was followed by visits to several other museums. However,since she was already running her own public relations and event management company,she could not translate her interest into a profession. In 2000,when she shifted to Shanghai,China,Petitjean enrolled for a course in sculpting at the University Fine Art College in Shanghai and learnt the art under artists Xiang Jin and Qu Guanci.

In 2001,she held her first exhibition in Shanghai. “Five years ago,me and my husband shifted to India. This is my first exhibition in Pune,” says the 53-year-old,adding that the colours and diversity that she comes across in Indian culture bring life to her works. The 20 sculptures on display at the exhibition are made using brass,black metal and bronze. “Some times,I also use fibreglass and resin for my sculptures,” she says.

Padial,on the other hand,says that her love for painting began much earlier. She made her first painting at the age of two. “My father was an engineer by profession but was a good painter. He motivated me to take up painting as a career,” says Padial. Over 35 years ago,she studied humanities in Madrid,Spain. Later,she learnt painting in Brazil under Sousa San Martin,and then in Spain under Taller Del Prado. In 1998,she showcased her work for the first time at an exhibition held at OPA art gallery in Sao Paulo,Brazil.

In the three years that Padial has been staying in Pune,she has travelled extensively to Jaipur,Udaipur,Delhi,Chennai,Mumbai and Goa. “My works reflect all the marvellous colours that I see around me every day. Most of my paintings have cows in them,primarily because I see them so often walking freely on the streets. It is very uncommon for Europeans,” says the 58-year-old about her maiden exhibition that showcases 18 paintings.