The serene landscapes of the mountainous regions of India are a sight waiting to be captured. Often, artists who grow up among such panoramic views admit how nature becomes their muse. From resplendent compositions of distant hills and trees to sketched portraits showcasing local traditions, the canvases in an upcoming group exhibition, titled Pahad ke Rang, will have it all.

Bringing the beauty of the mountains to the plains of Delhi, the exhibition features recent works by 22 artists, who are mostly fine art students from the villages of Uttarakhand. And taking their brushes, to create on canvas their beautiful state in all its breathtaking landscapes, cultures and peoples, are the students of Kumaon University. “One of the main motifs I use are the scenes that I regularly encounter in my village and at home,” says Akarshan Bora, one of the participating artists who belongs to Nainital and also studied fine art in the hilly town. “For example, the earthen chulha used in the daily work of women in my village, which is a way of life here. Mud is an integral part of our life in the mountains. So I try to bring that into my paintings too.

Artists participating in this show engaged in an art workshop last month; and this exposure is a result of it. Bora, who was involved in street art work and murals before setting up the CBC (capacity building center) art studio last year, explains how he offers art classes and workshops. art to students in the Kumaoni area. “I tried to supervise the participating artists and help them put on the show. We were able to accomplish this with Udhyam, an organization that works in the Kumaon area, to help develop businesses and livelihoods. »

“I often wonder what colors and shades the next generation will inherit from us?” says Shivani Vishwakarama, an art student, who is exhibiting five of her works at the upcoming exhibition. She explains her art: “I work a lot around the folk imagery of the region, and my works merge art and textiles. In one of the works I created, I show a woman in a sari that shows the beautiful textile traditions of the pichora that originated in the Kumaoni region. I also try to include regional folk art forms like Aipan in my works.

Ritu Phulara, another native of Nainital, who studies fine arts in Almora, also participates in this show. She works with the acrylic medium and is greatly inspired by the landscape of Uttarakhand. She explains: “I have loved mountains since I grew up there, and I like to bring their peace, calm and gravity to my paintings. It becomes easy for me to add my own artistic vision to the paintings because of my roots here. Jo cheeze kahin kho gayi hai shehron ki taraf bhaagte bhaagte, woh main bahar laana chahti hun apne kaam se.

Catch it live

What: Pahad Ke Rang

Where: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road

When: February 19 and 20

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Nearest metro station: JLN stadium on the purple line

Author tweets @siddhijainn

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