Works by Shweta Chandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Swetha Chandra’s solo exhibition, Paradoxical Paradise, is an amalgamation of her diverse experiences. Paying tribute to World Environment Day (June 5), the artist grew up in the cantonment area near Bowenpally in Secunderabad and pursued her MFA from Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan. Her mother was very passionate about nature, flora and fauna. Art has helped him relive his memories. Apart from nature, the theme of his more than 30 acrylic paintings revolves around space illusion.
A decade later
Shweta Chandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Paradoxical Paradise is about our life experiences, says Swetha, who is holding a solo show after a decade. “Things are not what they appear to be.” For example, shadows look like an object from a distance, but appear different when you go closer. “The subconscious and illusory mind plays with time and space. I call it paradise because the beauty we see around us can make our lives better only when we go closer to it.”
Meditation Space
Work by Shweta Chandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The paintings aim to create a meditative and surreal space for the viewer. Flowers, clouds (lots of them) and other elements of nature have a positive effect and reflect our desire.Green holidays.They also demonstrate nature’s ‘camouflage’ character. “We humans make a lot of noise and want to stand out rather than see nature’s creatures,” she says. “We hear the calls of parrots but rarely see them on trees. They blend in with the environment and enjoy life, not caring whether people are watching them or not.”
Creating the background is the first step in his creative process, and later, the elements or forms are carved out by ‘silhouetting the background or camouflaging the forms’.
Strong Memories
Work by Shweta Chandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Shweta’s first encounter with illusions was watching her mother hallucinate. “She had some psychological problems, but I didn’t understand much at that age. When I studied surrealist art, I could relate to illusions differently.” Memories of listening to her mother, a biology student, speak lovingly about birds and plants got imprinted in her subconscious mind and helped her focus on experiences she cherished in life. Some paintings also have a metaphorical meaning; the canvas depicting a deer leaping is a ‘hopeful act’ that represents the leaps we take to move forward in our lives.
Work by Shweta Chandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Shweta hopes that her paintings will have a calming effect on urban dwellers who lead busy lives. “They open a window to a desired, meditative and surreal space to help viewers unwind and live a richer life.”
Shweta Chandra’s solo exhibition Paradoxical Paradise is running from June 14 to 20 at the Chitramayee State Art Gallery in Madhapur.
