“I plunged eagerly and passionately into the wilderness, as if in the hope of thus penetrating into the very heart of this Nature, powerful and maternal, there to blend with her living elements.” ~ Paul Gauguin
Everyday objects are repurposed, adapted into art pieces, and finally again a new dimension in Rakhee Shenoy’s art. In her solo show Presence of Absence’ held at Bangalore International Centre in September 2023, she has experimented with digitally printed canvases presented in layers, with collages, painting, sewing, gluing and embroidery by positioning them into visually appealing compositions. A wide range of colours and formulations; overall create visually appealing designs, patterns and images- the look and the mood.
The portrayal of sunlight filtering through leaves or the moodiness of fresh, drooping, tangled or wild flowers, allows one to connect with the beauty and serenity of the natural world. Still-life encompasses different shapes and sizes of vases, mugs and bowls decked up with flowers; picnic baskets loaded with bottles, breads and fruits; birds, bees, bugs and butterflies hovering over flowers adding energy and vitality in art piece, also capturing the textures, colours, and patterns of petals and wings up close. The doodling of leaves and stems overlapping the boldly painted areas; picture frames hanging on the walls; comfort of a cozy home with distant sofa with a cushion, shadows playing over the window and adjoining wall; nostalgic hits of box television, radio and typewriter; a meal of cheese, lettuce, eggs, noodles and chopsticks- all continue to be a part of overlaid alignments with vivacious and contrasting colours taking charge.
Art on ordinary items, vintage splinters, discarded items, or any routine object that inspires one, allows for unfettered creativity, by experimenting with altered materials, flairs, and leitmotifs to create unique artworks. The linear elements and pasting create depth within the floral arrangement. Creative possibilities of ‘fish’ fascinates Rakhee, and not to miss the ‘tactile qualities’ of textiles with the depth and dimension of mixed media elements.
It’s the versatile form of mixed media art that has resulted in cohesive and harmonious, visually arresting artworks, which are constructive, specific and well-pondered over. There is no single pivotal point in her artworks. The mood, colours and atmosphere of the painting, make eye travel all around and notice even the minutest of the details. The petals, leaves, and stems realistically rendered, contrast well with more of impressionistic approach in background.
Overall, the technique, precision and execution grant an appeal and resonance to the creations. Rakhee’s creative choices make her art stand class apart, where lines and brush strokes blend and get interlaced exquisitely with satin, cross, couching, blanket or even feather stitch.
The show continues online at www.artisera.com
About the Author:
Dr ALKA CHADHA HARPALANI
Artist & Writer, Bangalore, Email: acart2009@gmail.com
Alka likes to ‘mix my magics.’ She tries to merge boundaries of different mediums whether it is mixed media, digital, assemblage or installation. Her art is an amalgamation of images, textures and calligraphy that acts as a design in background. The act of bringing out ideas on paper, computer or canvas, is a psychological or emotional effort for her. She has made her name on ‘Art’-scape as a painter, poet, and researcher and formed her own signature. “I use mixed media to integrate sensations into coherent painterly forms, where one can see intensification, clarification and interpretation of experiences in various degrees. The brushwork is declaration of my personal freedom where mixed media supports me in creating visual variety. In a few words, it’s a correspondence between feeling, form and technique, where my painting continues to change and grow at every step.” Born and brought up in Punjab, Alka did BFA in Painting from College of Arts Chandigarh, and bagged her Master’s Degree and PhD from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Alka has worked as an Asso Professor for almost fifteen years. And now she is settled in Bangalore and is a freelancer, involved in e-papers and content writing of demonstrations of renowned artists. She has carved her niche with her regular articles and write-ups on trends in art, artists, competitions and exhibitions in numerous art newspapers like Art amour, Art Observer, Delhi; Art Affairs, Belgaum and Royal Art Times, Gulbarga. Alka is an editor of a journal and member of editorial board of Anu Books Publication, Meerut. Her research papers, reviews and articles have been published in numerous reputed journals, magazines, catalogues and art newspapers too.
She has many National and International exhibitions, seminars and workshop too her credit. Her portfolio has been featured in International magazines. Besides all this, she has won many awards, naming a few like those by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar, 2019, 2020; Honour for dedication and contribution in the field of art, Kausa Kala Trust, Amritsar, 2019; ICAC-International Creative art Centre, Mumbai, 2019 & 2020; Bindaas Artist group;; Indian Royal Academy of Art and Culture, Gulbarga; ALL VISUAL ARTS, www.allvisualarts.com; Gallery ARTOZ, Udaipur; IOAS Astrophilia, SriLanka; International studio art symposium, www.studioartsy.org and IWD Women Achievers’ award for achievement in the field of art 2020; Prathap Institute of painting, Hyderabad, 2020; Biennale IVOPA; Mellow Arts, Japan; Raphael award- Creators Collective Mumbai2022;The Art Platform, Germany; Graphics print in the invite of an exhibition Centro del grabado Valparaíso-Chile Convocatoria: Homenaje a Marco Molina2021; Sampurna award Bangia Kala Kendra 2022; She has been a member of many organizing committees, panel expert board of studies; guest faculty and content writer for e-lectures and Faculty Development programmes. She has been appointed Consultant for Jammu and Kashmir Centre for Creative Arts, Jammu too; Art critic, National Printmaking Camp by LKA in Bangalore 2022; JURY 63rd National Exhibition, LKA,Delhi 2023
