Why you need to check out this 80-year-old artist's exhibition in Mumbai this September

Many people defy age to make their dreams come true and there are many Indians who do that on a daily basis At 80 artist Shailaja S Kamat is one of them as she will present her solo exhibition at Mumbairsquos iconic Jehangir Art Gallery following several solo and group exhibitions at various venues in India and DubaiKnow more about the art exhibitionTitled Beyond the Shapes the exhibition will be held from September 7 to September 13 and will feature the Indian artists paintings exploring cityscapes through colour form and abstractionldquoA solo exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery has been my lifetime dreamrdquo says Kamat ldquoI never imagined I would experience such a beautiful moment in my life I feel so happy so content and truly grateful For me this feels like receiving a lifetime achievement awardrdquoAs the title suggests Kamat looks beyond the familiar forms of the built environment to discover new possibilities within them The cityscape has been at the centre of her practice over the last four years shaped by her close observation of houses and architectural forms across cities towns and villages The changing light brought by different weather conditions the mood of a rainy day or the quietness of night often find their way into her cityscapes giving the same spaces different characters onto her canvas Her impeccable sense of colour adds to these changing moods while industrial buildings bring in another side of city life reflecting the struggles of the workers who spend their days within them Homes in cities and villages along with mandirs masjids and churches appear alongside each other reflecting the real diversity and unity of everyday life Rather than simply reproducing what she sees she breaks down these familiar structures and evolves her own interpretations through shapes colours and compositionsProcess of creating the artworksCreated over approximately eight months the 3540 acryliconcanvas works in Kamatrsquos upcoming exhibition in Mumbai vary in size but share her interest in turning everyday structures into expressive compositions Having witnessed eight decades of change Kamatrsquos works also reflect the transformation of Indiarsquos landscape from village life to extreme urbanisation For her the cityscapes are not just about buildings and spaces but observations of the people lives and changing world around them The idea that every person has a struggle finds expression in some of her works through the outline of human faces within which she brings in village scenes reflecting the larger journey of human lifeldquoAge and life experiences have definitely brought depth to my workrdquo she says ldquoThe journey I have experienced the good and the bad has taught me many things Observing the world around me and expressing my emotions through painting has become my passionrdquoKamatrsquos love for painting began when she was around eight years old Over the years she experimented with colour pencils oil pastels charcoal watercolours and oils and eventually studied art in Karnataka Yet life did not allow her to pursue painting professionally for many years She continued to keep in touch with art in whatever way she could often painting to gift her works to family and friendsIt was only at the age of 75 that her artistic journey took a decisive turn Her meeting with artist and mentor Satyendra Rane introduced her to new techniques in acrylic painting and opened up an entirely new phase of her practice Since then Kamat has worked with a renewed sense of purpose spending the last four years developing her cityscape works Her family too has been an important source of encouragement throughout this journeyThere is still much that the octogenarian artist wants to explore experiment with and put on canvas And for anyone who feels they have waited too long to pursue something they love Kamat has a simple message ldquoI feel art can become a beautiful part of your life at any age It gives you joy keeps you happy and helps you forget your worries If there is something you have always wanted to do I would say just begin Take it slowly enjoy the process and see where it takes you It is never too late to discover something new about yourselfrdquoWhere Jehangir Art Gallery Kala Ghoda MumbaiWhen September 7 to September 13Time 11 am to 7 pm daily