Aninda Verma's paintings are reflective a time where art culminates into the explanation of simplicity.
Sticking to traditional methods of oil paintings, Aninda Verma's oils on linen do justice. Linen has a natural texture which lends depth and meanings to Aninda's colours. The linen allows for a natural middle tone value to be used and because it absorbs oil faster, it throws in an extra opportunity to rework and retain the freshness of the pigment. Aninda's abstract paintings titled, ‘Serenity' are a rich mixture of vibrant colours. On close observation, you can see a generous application of colour in her works and there is interesting texture in all her frames.
The thing about abstract work is that it gives a free pass to interpret in more than one way. It takes away the focus from cognizable shapes and semantic associations to literally a blank, where each stroke of paint and colour can add meaning. The viewer in effect becomes the artist, where he brings his own apprehensions, understanding and interpretation to the combination of colours put on display by the artist. In effect, abstract idea begets abstract and varied interpretation.
Drawing clear inspirations from contemporary abstract painters like Mark Rothko and Susan Frecon, colours like yellow, blue and crimson find ample space against base colours like white and black. Her painting titled, ‘Balance in blue' is a juxtaposition of non-representational form, four shades of blue find an apt space on her canvas, a dark interpretation, the entire canvas renders space for multiple expression and understanding. It is interesting to note that almost all her works have a visual balance.
Bright works, ‘Finding Space' and ‘Sinking bricks' find a generous splash of red put in contrast with yellow and orange and ochre shapes.
These two paintings seem visually close to Mark Rothko's style of painting from his later days, where he began to build up to the concept of nothing, when his paintings lost visual complexities. Colour seem to play a unique role in Aninda's works, where colour in itself has a story to tell. Her untitled paintings using gouache, tea leaves on handmade paper are rather intriguing.
Keywords: Aninda Verma paintings
