Artists Shuchi Khanna’s latest works will be on display at her solo exhibition Transcending Thoughts at the Galerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Francaise De Delhi in Lodhi Estate. Myriad media (paper, canvas, ink, acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite pencil, tea, water colours, ceramic relief, acrylic sheets, wire and cotton strings) are deployed via an intensively physical effort using hands, fingers, elbows and nails to create these works.
Shuch says, “Life is full of positivity. One needs to just not look around but dig deeper to find that positivity. It is all about what state of mind one chooses to be in and not what life offers. My work reflects my state of mind which yearns to remain happy under all circumstances. The show is all about positive balance between contentment and dynamism.”
Talking about her paintings, she says: the “Dreamscape Series” are neither land nor city scape. They represent the positive subconscious spaces which a person deserves to be in, as happy surroundings. “The Bull Series” reflects the quality of inner strength and power as bulls are a symbol of prosperity and growth.” Shuchi’s works engage the curiosity of the viewer. Layering being her strong point she shows deep understanding of colours and comfort with the large as well as small spaces.
She added “This body of works has been a testing of waters for me, through experimentation with various mediums to render this effect of textured surface with metallic hues in the shallow relief. Many a time, I tried numerous permutations and combinations to achieve this result. Bright colours and colourful things always fascinated me as a child and continue to attract me. Gold, silver and other metallic hues get spunk in my life and that spice ingredient makes it glamorous. I am not away from worldly pleasures; so to say all metallic hues fascinate me. Yet I do introspect in the depth of thoughts and life.
Shuchi and her works have been an integral part of numerous art shows and events. In one special event Shuchi performed a Jugalbandi with famous flautist Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia by painting live with hands on the canvas while he played his flute.
A Delhi University graduate and a qualified commercial artist, Shuchi underwent advance training in Creative Arts. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Education degree too. She has also exhibited her paintings at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where the late President Abdul Kalam inaugurated the exhibition. One of the works adorns the walls of Rashtrapati Bhavan and another painting is in the collection of The Prime Minister of India›s Office, New Delhi to talk about a few of her many collections.
She has also held several shows and won a large number of awards. The shows include one by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi, Berlin and London. Some of those works are now a part of the permanent collection of the Nehru Centre, London and The Indian Embassy, Berlin.
Shuchi has worked closely with a destitute women home and painted on the lives of inmates which were published as a coffee table book and exhibited at the United Nation’s Office as well.
The show is on view till 27 August at Galerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Française, Delhi