Wonders of mind on canvas

Artworks by Chaitali Chatterjee portray references to nature

Bright colours, many moods and simplistic styles are what Delhi-based artist Chaitali Chatterjee’s ongoing exhibition at All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Gallery on Rafi Marg is all about.

A familiar figure on Delhi’s art circuit having held as many as 11 exhibitions in the City, Chaitali’s latest paintings, about 20 of them, are bathed in bright colours in keeping with her style. 

As the name suggests, ‘Wonders in Mind’, paintings in the exhibition are characterised by a number of tho­­u­ghtful subjects expressed through the interplay of colour, space and lines.

“I always use lots of colours and bright ones because that shows life. Also, I refrain from restricting the paintings to a single theme. The paintings are a reflection of my and every human being’s mind which shifts focus in a fraction of second,” says Chaitali, whose works have extensive references to nature.

Oil is the medium that has been used in most paintings that are on display in this show, though there are a few well executed works in mixed media as well.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Minister (Press) in Bangladesh High Commission in India. He said art of any country is a reflection of its society, history and heritage.

“Art speaks literally of a country’s society, heritage and history along with the artists’ state of mind. Chaitali has done good job in depicting all that,” he told Metrolife.

One can see a range of themes such as women’s aspiration and nature. Though they appear simple, the kind that does require interpretation, a closer look reveals a network of fine and intricate work done with a great deal of patience.

Of all paintings on display, seven of them have been exhibited before. Her last exhibition was in Mumbai last year.

A 1980 graduate of College of Art, Delhi, Chaitali has learnt her craft from masters like Bimal Dasgupta, Manjeet Singh Bawa and Biswanath Mukherjee. Before becoming a full-fledged artist, she has made illustrations for books for various publishing houses.
The exhibition will be on till September 7.