A self-taught artist Rashmi Singh, who reclaimed her life through canvas after a deadly accident a decade ago, showcased miniatures inspired by Tanjore art and Rajputana culture. She spoke to Karan Bhardwaj
She has nothing to do with Rajasthan but her Rajputana roots has laid a strong foundation for her works. Rashmi Singh’s artworks are a mesmerising amalgamation of two enticing regions of India. Tanjore paintings are blessed with Rajasthani colours and techniques. At a recent exhibition at Alliance Francaise, she showcased over 30 paintings, mostly miniatures, and 20 pieces from her jewellery line, ins ired by crafts from Jaipur. “I have tried to experiment with Tanjore paintings. There has been criticism that despite being beautiful work of art, they do not convey any message. So my works are further interpretation of Tanjore art.,” said the artist.
There are Hindu gods like Krishn, Ganesha, and even Jesus Christ and Buddha in various mudras. The golden ornamentation, a quintessential element of Tanjore art, is pretty evident. But what takes the artworks to a new high is the beautiful interpretation of lotus, visible in most of the works. According to the artist, the flower embodies the elements of jal, vayu and prithvi. “The lotus is born under water in dirt but rises above in air to show that one needs to get up from all the petty hassles in life,” said the artist.
Doused in vivid colours, glittery gold and silver foils — the paintings leave impact on the mind and soul alike.
In the jewellery line, Yeshua, a necklace, shows the hardships and crucifixion of Jesus symbolically. “In this piece, pearls are embedded in a mix of silver and smoky quartz stones. The stones convert negative energy into positive,” she explained.
Though it has traditional looks, Trigyesh, another necklace, is made up of precious stones and metals like silver, pearls and coral beads. The pendant shows Budhha in his famous lotus mudra when he attained nirvana. Bagh Nakha has emerald, yellow and blue sapphire, ruby and hessonite with exemplary meenakari work. “In the Rajputana tradition, Bagh Nakha is kept near a newborn child with the belief that the child will grow as a strong and fearless human being. The tiger claw represents supreme power and masculinity,” said the artist who has participated in over 20 shows across the globe.
Rashmi reclaimed her life through colours and canvas after a deadly accident over a decade ago. “I was no less than a dead body. Bones were fractures, memory hit the block and I was also having fits. I can never forget that period of my life since there was no hope. But my daughter gave me a pencil to start drawing and I somehow found hope in colours. I suddenly felt motivated and as luck would have it, things improved gradually and I rediscovered my life,” she recounted her tragic memories with tears in eyes.
Rashmi also finished her law five years back. “As an artist, I have no formal training. Trial and error method has brought me where I am. I always try to engage with veteran painters to learn,” she said.