A brush with nature
Updated On: 06 March, 2020 08:38 AM IST | Dalreen Ramos
An exhibition of traditional art by award-winning artists sheds light on the environment and its challenges today
Anwar Chitrakar's Prakriti Devi, acrylic on canvas
The intersection between art and nature requires no pondering; each adds to the definition of the other. There is a long tradition of famous artists being inspired by nature, too — from Van Gogh's Irises to Claude Monet's Water Lilies. It is this idea that translates into an exhibition opening today at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya's Coomaraswamy Hall. Titled Art in Nature, it showcases the works of 11 award-winning artists, part of the Indian Arts Collective, specialising in traditional Indian art.
The artwork on display ranges from Kaligat, phad, pithora and pattachitra paintings to kawad wooden boxes, and gadwakam sculptures and ceramics. Although the collective is known to exhibit once a year in Mumbai, this theme is a first for them. "It is a combination of the traditional and the modern because while traditional art features natural elements, the artists here are interpreting their own surroundings. They hail from rural areas, so their work reflects the development they have seen and also highlights the artistic diversity of the country," says organiser Anu Chowdhury-Sorabjee.
Anu Chowdhury-Sorabjee
Unlike other exhibitions held at the venue, the show will follow a gallery set-up where the pieces will be framed and not laid out. Apart from a walkthrough, the artists will conduct workshops too, at a fee of Rs 500. Two will be held on each day for the three days the exhibition spans. While Padma Shri awardee S Shakir Ali will teach participants miniature painting, Odisha's Pranab Narayan Das will conduct one on pattachitra.
ADVERTISEMENT
Poll
Who will win the Punjab Elections?
The goal, Chowdhury-Sorabjee says, is to ensure that the work sells because it's the only way to keep these legacies alive. She adds, "We advise some of them to keep the size of the work small because it is difficult to sell otherwise owing to the city's space crunch. The artists will also be interacting with customers, so we're literally bringing them to you, but in a curated fashion."
Pranab Das's Nature, natural colour on tussar silk
On March 8, 11 am to 7 pm
At Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort.
Call 9821061915
Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Trending Stories
Latest Web Stories
Latest Photos
06 August, 2026 08:34 PM IST | In Photos: Hiroshima Day Silent Peace March 2026
Preshit Deorukhkar
17 December, 2025 11:56 AM IST | IN PHOTOS: MLAs at Vidhan Bhavan during Maharashtra Legislative Council polls
Asif Ali Sayed
09 September, 2024 09:32 PM IST | IN PHOTOS: People in Mumbai celebrate Gauri Puja during Ganeshotsav
Asif Ali Sayed
09 September, 2024 09:13 PM IST | IN PHOTOS: Mumbai witnesses sunny weather as rains take a break
Asif Ali Sayed
Latest Videos
ADVERTISEMENT
Mid-day Fast
Latest Headlines
20 August, 2026 09:25 PM IST | mid-day online correspondent
19 August, 2026 07:14 PM IST | Makepeace Sitlhou
19 August, 2026 11:50 AM IST | Test Tushar
12 August, 2026 07:33 PM IST | Oshin Fernandes