New York-based Shivani Dugar, who is holding her first solo exhibition in the city from January 9-27, describes the challenges and the opportunities for young artists
Inspired by nature: Artist Shivani Dugar
New York-based Shivani Dugar, who is holding her first solo exhibition in the city from January 9-27, describes the challenges and the opportunities for young artists
Shivani Dugar's works bring out the delightful and vibrant moods of nature. This is her first solo show in India. She has held successful shows in New York, Washington and Brooklyn.
Why did you choose abstract media over other forms?u00a0
Abstract media allows me to create meditative landscapes that inspire me to look within. It compels me to search for the connections that unite us with our surroundings. Using the tools of colour and texture I try to invoke imaginative landscapes that resonate in my mind.
There are no limitations but only endless possibilities in abstract art.u00a0 My works have evolved into abstractions, where the creation of depth, through many layers of colour, has developed in tandem with the increased pictorial space. Most of my works are created around a horizon, thereby anchoring the painting. From there, the works shift outwards into abstractions of colour and line that could border on realistic representation or photo-realism, like the blurred photo based paintings of a master abstractionist, Gerhard Richter. But, just as the mind tries to frame these elements into a recognisable image, the painting can as quickly dissolve and melt away like a fleeting memory.
What do you want to convey through your paintings?u00a0
My paintings are my stairway into the spirit of nature. It is a journey of reminiscence, where the spirituality of nature is expressed not only in the elements but also in their relationships and connections, where light animates the landscape as much as it animates the mind, uncovering hidden elements and meanings.
Like nature, my paintings are built up in layers by different textures and colours. The contemplation of cosmic cycles of rebirth, generation and dissolution, and of air, fire, earth, water and space are all examined using the tools of colour, laying emphasis on the magnitude of our natural world. Through my art, I aim to create a sacred and tactile space, which can be entered into by viewers who can then make it their own.
Who is your ideal? Are there other ar tists who inspire you?
Gaitonde's works have inspired me. When I look at his paintings, they absorb me completely. I constantly look at the colours, searching within them for my own peace. J M W Turner is another such artist. The multi hued and glittering works of the Impressionists like Monet who opened our eyes to the beauty of the everyday landscape around us inspire me. Artists like Gerhard Richter and Anselm Kiefer in the modern age have continued their abstractions of the natural world, from expansive painterly expressions of beauty, to a depiction of the devastation and blackness of a scorched earth.u00a0 In recent years I even like works of artist Peter Doig.
You have exhibited your art in India and abroad.u00a0 How was the reception there?
I've had three successful solo shows in New York, and have taken part in a few group shows (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, London and Singapore). I have received encouraging feedback and a great response, which is overwhelming.u00a0 I am now excited about my first solo show in Bangalore.
What are the challenges for young artists in India?
In India and abroad, there exist numerous challenges for young artists as well as opportunities.u00a0 I prefer to focus on the opportunities. Galleries are promoting young artists by giving them a chance to showcase their work.u00a0 There are numerous awards and residencies being awarded to young artists. India has produced some amazing artists over the years, comparable to master artists elsewhere in the world.u00a0u00a0
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