Delhi-based artist Anup Kumar Chand's paintings about tigers at Mumbai exhibition invite viewers to experience nature’s tranquility

Mumbai: “Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night, what immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful symmetry?” The poem by the legendary English poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake, is something often quoted. It asks a lot, tells a lot.

Reimagining the tiger was perhaps a challenge for Anup Kumar Chand, a Delhi-based artist and painter.

Chand’s Moonlit Night Story is a testament to his deep-rooted connection with traditional Indian folk art and his evolution into contemporary artistic expressions.

“My latest works reimagine the tiger - often symbolising power and aggression - as a gentle, peaceful being, existing harmoniously in moonlit landscapes surrounded by lush flora,” Chand said at the inauguration of his exhibition at the historic Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

Through a delicate interplay of light and shadow, Chand invites viewers to experience nature’s tranquility and reflect on humanity’s relationship with the environment.

“The exhibition is not just a visual experience; it is an introspective journey that bridges folk traditions with modern sensibilities, urging a deeper appreciation for both artistic heritage and ecological balance,” Chand said, also stressing on the importance of flora and fauna.

“We have to tell the importance of the Earth, nature, and climate to the future generations,” he said.

“This exhibition was a big challenge. Some of the paintings have taken more than a month,” said Chand’s wife Shubra Chand, also a Delhi-based artist, who hails from Katni in Madhya Pradesh.

Born in Odisha, he developed a deep connection to folk traditions from an early age, inspired by Alpana ritual paintings.

Encouraged by his mother, he explored storytelling through art and folk songs, shaping his creative vision. He pursued a BFA at B K College of Art and Crafts, Bhubaneswar (1993) and later earned a master’s degree from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh. His research on Pata-Chitra and icon painting led to a PhD on 'Folk Paintings of Coastal Orissa', blending traditional and modern expressions in his art.

“Anup’s paintings are known for their elegance, restraint, and emotional depth, characterised by rich yet subtle colours, gentle brushwork, and a harmonious balance of space. His works evoke peace, harmony, and quiet tension, leaving a lasting impact through their serene yet complex compositions,” said Prayag Shukla, renowned art critic, poet and writer, who inaugurated the week-long exhibition on Monday.

“While depicting the tiger, moonlit landscapes, and ever-changing flora, Chand elegantly integrates the elements of nature, transformation and exile. Nature morphs to become something completely different while still being nature and shifts everything onto a different pedestal. The combination of which is deeply introspective and changes the viewer's perspective. As the viewer interacts with these works, they are encouraged to contemplate on their own journey one that speaks of self-realisation, change, and belonging. The emotional artistry transcends the tangible, and transforms reality into a fantasy,” said Dr Meghali Goswami, Associate Professor, Department of History of Art Kala Bhavana, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan.