Forward block

She paints women, their relationships and their inner space, while serving up a colourful palette of traditional Mithila paintings with an urban twist.

She paints women, their relationships and their inner space, while serving up a colourful palette of traditional Mithila paintings with an urban twist. Shelly Jyoti, a self-taught artist, displays both skill and sensitivity while dealing with her medium of acrylic and ink on archival paper. 8220;I have always been interested in the decorative aspect of art. I add my own personal narratives to a style of painting, I feel I am bringing tradition alive,8221; says the Baroda-based painter, who was born in Delhi in the year 1957.

She is having her first solo in Mumbai8212;Beyond Mithila: Exploring the Decorative at Jamaat Art Gallery in Colaba Mumbai. 8220;As far as I go, Mithila appeals to my senses, rather than my intellect. I also think it8217;s important to reconnect with art done by women, involving art that welcomes ornamentation instead of eschewing it,8221; says Jyoti.

Mithila is relegated to the realm of craft but many contemporary artists are revisiting the style and imbuing it with new narratives.

8220;When I was invited last year by Women Made Art Gallery, in Chicago, I felt that I wanted to share the heritage of India with the people in America,8221; says Jyoti who had a hearty response with 250 people turning up for the opening at the gallery.

8220;My current body of work explores a new medium, Zardozi textile, block printing with some of the motifs I use in my paintings,8221; says Jyoti who also writes poems to accompany her paintings. They read as a lyrical artist8217;s statement about the works.

In one of them she compares her mother to a tree.

8220;My next show is looking at a more political issue, the narratives of Indigo workers, who have been exploited through during Colonial times,8221; says the artist who plans to collaborate with an American artist. 8220;Collaboration is good because it brings in different cultural contexts and I am always open to fusion. However, much about this show is yet to be decided,8221; says the artist who prices her paintings between Rs 3,500 to Rs 1 lakh.