AIFACS is currently home to MADHYAMA, a deeply introspective solo exhibition by artist Aashima Mehrotra, on view from April 12, 2025. The show opens a window into the artist’s emotional and philosophical world, offering not just a display of artworks, but a profound inner journey.
The title MADHYAMA draws from Vedic philosophy, representing the quiet, unspoken dialogue that takes place within the heart before a creative expression takes form. It is this reflective, undefinable space that Mehrotra explores through her work. Rather than adhering to a specific theme or series, the exhibition is a mosaic of moods and emotional states-each canvas revealing a different shade of the self, much like the multiple layers of personality we exhibit in life.
Mehrotra, a civil servant by profession, treats painting as a deeply personal form of expression rather than a commercial pursuit. A self-taught artist, she has been painting since the age of five. As a quiet child, art became her first language-a way to express what words could not. Encouraged by her parents, especially her late father who always hoped the world would see her art, Mehrotra finally stepped into the public eye in 2019 after the loss of her brother-a turning point that reignited her artistic journey.
Her first solo show at the Jehangir Art Gallery was met with national and international appreciation. Notably, one of her works secured the fourth position at the New York Art Competition-her debut international showcase. Since then, she has continued to exhibit her work through ICCR and other platforms, always staying true to her artistic intuition over commercial demands.
The art exhibition was inaugurated by Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Anil Sooklal , High Commissioner, South Africa along with his spouse. Various other distinguished personalities Bimal Bihari Das, President, AIFACS, Hitendra Malhotra, Member operations and Business Development, Railway board, Manoj Kumar Dubey, CMD, IRFC and Neerja Sarin, SPIC MACAY also joined the event.
Among the standout works in MADHYAMA are Gaze (Acrylic on Canvas, 60 x 96 inches, 2025), an arresting piece that draws the viewer into a contemplative exchange; NEELVARNA and NEELVARNA 2.0 (Oil on Canvas, 2021 & 2020), which explore layered serenity through hues of blue; HOLY CITY (Acrylic on Canvas, 2022), evoking sacred urban landscapes; and Vivhatsa (Acrylic on Canvas, 2025), a raw, emotionally charged portrayal of disgust and complexity.
Aashima Mehrotra’s MADHYAMA is not merely an exhibition-it is an invitation to reflect, feel, and find resonance within oneself. It offers a rare and honest artistic experience that speaks directly from the heart, according to a Press release.
