Portrait of an Artist As a Private Person

As of now, though, Anju is "making ways" for her art. One of her latest works on display at the ongoing exhibition, `Transpostions’, is an inspiration from a Portuguese figure, a sword-swallower. A comment on the artist as a performer, someone always under scrutiny, her art speaks about her, eloquently. "I was quite taken in by it because I saw myself in it. Someone going through pain because he has to perform. The idea of this exhibition was inspirational art, which anyway most art is, and it seemed to have perfectly matched with my painting." It also somewhat explains why Dodiya is more "private" than many others. She takes inspiration or an association to a point and then leaves it. The effect it has on her by then is what drives her creative process.

A work style that seems to be paying off. Anju is among five artists, including Sudarshan Shetty and Baiju Parthan, to have been nominated for this year’s Sotheby Award for Artistic Excellence. "Winning the award is quite immaterial, getting nominated itself is a threshold to exposure and popularity. On a larger level, it’s yet another step towards popularising Art, you could say, apart from the recognition, of course. Today’s artists can get a show almost as soon as they are out of college. Awards like these only contribute to the phenomenon. I mean, every other lady you meet in artist gatherings in this city actually owns a gallery. Almost reminds you of Paris!"

Amidst her growing popularity, Anju steadfastly holds on to her privacy. That’s the secret of her art. Which also happens to be seeped in history. She "eats" with her eyes every time she looks at Italian medieval paintings. The experiment is inspired by the self within. "Although I have fought new trends over the years, I am now more open to levitating and defying. It is about constantly fighing the inertia of getting distracted by the basic chores of living life. You have to get into the flow yourself, sometimes indulge yourself consciously." It’s also about being in front of a canvas till her private moments become public. The creative process never ceases to surprise Anju every time she sees herself on a canvas. "Each painting is like living a full life."