Though spirituality is the underlying theme in Amrita Paintal and Sneha Mandhania’s exhibition of paintings titled, “Silent Poetry”, the theme is subtly reinforced in Amrita’s works while being that much more bold in Sneha’s works.
Amrita’s spirituality appears gentle, vast and all encompassing, as she expresses in her landscapes, profiles and abstracts.
She paints the backwaters of Kerala, or sunset over the fields of Texas, she paints the Buddha inspired by a banyan tree that grew around the head of Buddha statue that was beheaded in Thailand or a “Cotton Candywala”.
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She also paints the Dashashwamedh Ghat of Varnasi and a stupa painted with Buddha’s eyes painted on.
She paints in bright colours and fluid lines, which seem to convey a certain purity of thought, a certain freedom of not being restricted.
“For me spirituality is a feeling of oneness with the higher self, of being connected to the universe and gratefulness for all of life’s blessings,” says Amrita.
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“I only paint when I feel close to God, even when I paint portraits, I connect to God in each person.”
Amrita says she is inspired by painters such as Rivera, Monet, Frieda, Tagore, Shergil and Roerich.
Sneha’s spirituality, as reflected in her works, seems more intense and specific.
The Buddha is an important figure in Sneha’s artistic and spiritual worlds. She paints the Buddha in myriad forms, in his Nirvana posture or showing the “Abhaya” mudra depicting fearlessness and protection.
Sneha also works the theme of the Buddha into wall artefacts on large pieces of acrylic on canvas. She also works with motifs such as the lotus, the Shree Yantra or the swastika from the Hindu traditions, exploring their symbolic and practical values.
Sneha often works with rich colours and dark shades. Her paintings, almost always suffused with light, are sometimes delicate or intricate and at other times, simple. Often she paints text (of Sanskrit chants and mantras) and numbers over paintings, which seem to add to the complexity and power of her theme.
“Silent Poetry” will be on view at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Kumara Krupa Road up to November 17. For details, contact 9900003077.