Opening on Monday, March 14th 2022. The exhibition will be on view till 23rd March 2022.

This art exhibition showcases myriads of birds from India and other parts of the world. Birds have always fascinated me for their uniqueness and their striking plumage. My art in vibrant and vivid watercolours depicts these sprightly creatures. The exhibition draws from the album of birds and fires up the imagination through exaggerated brilliant brushstrokes and hues. ‘A Bird Call’ celebrates these beautiful beings as well as creates awareness about the danger birds face today. It is their silent cry for help. 

In this exhibition, while we explore the avian world through lifelike imagery and stunning colours, we also understand the vulnerability of endangered birds and their homes. The exhibition is an endeavour to give a voice to birds that are fast disappearing today and thus the show’s subject is very close to my heart. It is my hope that perhaps one day, everyone will be able to understand that the beautiful precious creatures that they take for granted are in danger of becoming extinct. 

In India, the illegal trade of protected bird species has been going on for years. Owls, especially, have been on the receiving end of this for they are sought for their body parts like skulls, talons, beaks, feathers, and even blood—a practice driven by irrational myths. Meanwhile, sparrows are being rendered homeless due to the modern ‘matchbox style’ architecture that makes it difficult for the bird to build nests. Thanks to us these birds have been pushed to the brink of extinction. It’s high time we do something to save them. Knowledge like this also helps the public to understand why it’s so serious when a bird species declines or goes extinct. It’s not just a pretty bird disappearing thousands of miles away – it’s the loss of a vital component in a complex web of interactions. Without it, the whole ecosystem may fall.

While, artist Rupa Samaria gives a voice to the birds’ silent call for help through her solo exhibition of 50-60 stimulating and mesmerizing avian art work at Visual Arts Gallery, IHC from March 14 till March 23, 2022, March 20th has been especially reserved for the World Sparrow Day. Some of her art work encompasses the beauty of these humble birds and is a reminder that they are fast declining in the concrete jungles of our cities.

The aim of this show is to re-discover a world inhabited by one of the most familiar, unique and precious creatures that inhabit our planet—birds. The art work focuses on startling detail to colour, line, form and composition. It’s a reminder of our precious connection to the natural world.

Delhi based, Rupa Samaria’s artwork showcases her passion for birds and wildlife conservation. Her goal is to depict the magnificence and fragility of birds in equal measure. Rupa works across various mediums such as watercolours, acrylic, charcoal, and even sculpture and interactive art, to depict the various moods, poses and habitats of birds found across the Indian subcontinent like owls, sparrows, kingfishers, and numerous other native birds. She brings to life her spectacular subjects through intricate detail, brilliant hues and loving creativity.

“My avian art comes from my love for these creatures, who I love to paint using my brush and sculpt using my hands, a process which gives me immense gratification as an artist. Moreover, we should be alarmed at the statistics of the recent State of India’s Birds report, which show a decline in the number of house sparrows in cities. I believe the time to act is now,” says Rupa Samaria.

The exhibition is supported by noted Ornithologist, Author, and Conservationist Bikram Grewal along with Photographer, Author, and Conservationist Nikhil Devasar, Former Principal and Education Coordinator, Notre Dame Schools, Sr. Mary Beena and Author, Educator & Conservationist Hema Maira. “Rupa Samaria is a fine practitioner of the dying art of ornithological paintings and a worthy successor to artists like DV Cowen, JP Irani and Carl D’silva,” states Bikram Grewal.

About the Artist

Delhi Based Rupa Samaria was born and brought up in Patna. Her art has always borne the imprint of her penchant for birds and wildlife conservation. Her work conveys both the magnificence and fragility of birds in equal measure through diverse mediums such as watercolours, acrylic, and charcoal. Her ongoing series of avian artwork revolves around owls, sparrows, kingfishers and birds native to various Indian states and the world. She has displayed her art work across India. In Coringa, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh she participated in Coringa Bird Festival 2018 where her exhibit called “Glorious hues of kingfishers in Andhra Pradesh” was a series based on Kingfishers found in Andhra Pradesh”. She exhibited at a solo show  ‘A Bird came down the walk’ organized by VOW (Valley of words) in November 2018,  in Madhuban Hotel, Dehradun. Myths and legends of Black-billed Magpie in Ladakh, a touchable painting on Black-billed Magpie was exhibited at LAMO (Ladakh Arts and Media Organization) Leh, Ladakh in September 2018.

She has contributed to World Sparrow Day 2018, organised by Nature Forever Society. Her art exhibition at India Habitat Centre was called Ek Thi Chidiya on sparrows of India that are fast disappearing. Her art work for the Gaj Yatra organised by the Wildlife Trust of India, was a sculpture “The bird and the elephant”. It was a four and a half foot tall sculpture of an elephant with a bird,the Cattle egret sitting on top. This bird warns the elephants when their enemies are approaching.  She also participated in a  solo art show in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand in June 2018 called “A Bird came down the Walk. This show was an ode to the birds of Mussoorie” On Independence Day, 15th August 2021, at a special  programme called Udaan, in Chhani, Uttrakhand, she exhibited ‘Birds of Uttrakhand’. She used the medium  of art and music to interact with children and held talks on conservation efforts.

What: A Bird Call – A solo exhibition by Delhi based Artist, Educator and Conservationist- Rupa Samaria
Where: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Institutional Area, Lodi Colony, New Delhi – 110003
When: Opening on Monday, March 14th 2022. The exhibition will be on view till 23rd March 2022.
Time: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Media RSVP: Vipul Sharma- 9953049532 // Richa Gupta – 9873798874