Aparna Bidsaria highlights the organic interconnectedness between human beings and Nature through her exhibition. By Vaibhav Ratra
The banyan tree has had a bewildering impact on Indore-based artist Aparna Bidsaria since her childhood. It is nature, axis, strength, the prennial tree of knowledge, the kalpataru....So after earning a degree of Bachelor in Fine Arts, she started following her passion and made the banyan tree her leitmotif. She has been using charcoal, pastel, ink and acrylic to interpret it in various forms.
Through her art works, she wants to tell the world that there is an organic interconnectedness between human beings and nature. Also it’s an enduring symbol of knowledge, protection, timelessness and civilisational antiquity. “These paintings celebrate the solace to the soul, peace to the troubled, faith to the shaken,” says the artist.
She is obliquely referring to the fact that in our headrush of daily living, we tend to forget and acknowledge nature that has been the only source of knowledge and inspiration. Adds she, “Nature, in all its variegated forms, inspires me, reinvigorates my body and soul, and also triggers strong thought processes. I want my art to go to different places and regions to make people realise importance of nature.”
She says when visitors walk in and stay silent for minutes, “I hope they can feel my art and interpret their own feelings. The impressionists and expressionists have inspired me greatly. They observe and work on expressing their own feelings, good or bad. The other artists who influenced me when I started my works on the banyan tree were Seurat and Jackson Pollock,” says Aparna.
Aparna’s journey as an artist started around a decade ago with human forms. Then she began experimenting with abstract expressionism and minimalism. “Art is a childhood fascination and Van Gogh singularly has been my biggest hero. His study of light and movement is what I strive to achieve in my works. He is truly a legend and his paintings have had an imperishable impact on me,” she adds.
About the theme of her latest exhibit, she explains, “I had been nurturing a desire to portray my feelings about the banyan in its myriad hues from sunset to sunrise over different seasons. That is why I have used a variety of media to portray the tree such as clay, charcoal, pastel, ink and acrylic. These paintings are both in monochrome and colour.”
Says Aparna, “Called Time and Being, this is a sort of a traveling exhibition. I first exhibited it at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal in February, with lesser number of entries. For the Delhi exhibition, there are 30 paintings on display. I will be taking this show to the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in August, with more additions. I want my art to go to different places and regions. I want people to know how important trees are to us.”
Her advice to budding artistsIJ “To be true and honest to yourself and your art. Never fight shy of experimentation because the world appreciates originality so your ideas matters the most. And it goes without saying that there is no alternative to hard work and perseverance.”
The exhibition was curated by Uma Nair