Tales that water tells

Paintings done in watercolour have a unique characteristic: they make the subject seem extraordinary lucid, as if it were a still from a dream. Nature, especially, is best depicted this way; the free-flowing lines and shapes found in our surroundings find great justice in watercolour.

Noctuary- dreams of a night

As an ode to nature and water — especially, the ability of water to absorb the colours of its surroundings — an exhibition titled Khwabeeda is being organised at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. It is a solo show that displays the works of Nandita Richie, comprising of paintings and digital prints on stoles.

The paintings have several layers of paint and they are made using the impasto (or the wet-on-wet) technique, which utilises thick layers of paint. This helps enhance objects that float around in waterbodies, like flowers and fish.

Nature's exuberance

In a candid chat with Nandita, she reveals that the aim of this exhibition is to paint nature how one would like to see it.

The word khwabeeda means dreamer. “I am a dreamer and the whole collection is inspired by nature. I take nature as my reference, however, I do not paint what I see, but what I want to see,” she says.

One of the situations that artists tend to find themselves in is that they see and envision something but when it comes to the final product, things may turn out a bit differently. Such is the case for Nandita too. She explains, “Nature is my reference point… When I finish the painting, it is nothing close to the reference point but I try to keep the authenticity of nature.”

Lavendar Orchestration

As for the impasto technique, Nandita considers it her forte. But there are challenges to it. She elaborates, “I use acrylic paints, which tend to dry up really quickly. I have to be very quick to do the finishing layer.” She then adds that maintaining a certain speed is not difficult but it is most certainly challenging.

Other than nature, other artists like Monet inspire her. But amid influences, Nandita believes she manages to maintain her own style.

She also speaks on ‘art being trapped in galleries’. According to her, the whole point of the exhibition is to bring the paintings out on display. “Original art pieces may cost thousands and lakhs, which everyone can’t afford. But there are art lovers who would like to own an original art piece and this is what my variable art is,” she adds. Nandita seemed upbeat about people's perception towards art these days, saying, “People are appreciating it. I received good responses for my art and I think the perception is definitely changing towards the positive.”

The Exhibition would be currently ongoing till July 30 at the India Habitat Centre