Hema Upadhyay [1972 – 2015]

Art & Deal correspondent

“I produce realistic form-based works, often as a construct of the ‘truth’ or ‘reality’ that surround us “- Hema Upadhyay

A painter, a printmaker, an installation artist, a sculptor and then finally ‘a VISUAL ARTIST’, that’s how Hema Upadhyay defined herself. She completed her Bachelor in Fine Arts in painting and Master in Fine Arts in printmaking from Baroda, and her artistic journey can be described as an to exploration of notions of personal identity, dislocation, nostalgia and gender. She brought forth her own artistic resolutions by relocation the self-portrait in a larger social, cultural milieu. Heavily moved by the migration, her works speak strongly of the metropolis of Mumbai, essential issues & tragedies, serious problems between people, and hidden consequences of the urban development.

A number of solo shows after acquiring the degree, but she received her breakthrough from a solo show, titled ‘Sweet Sweat Memories’ at Gallery Chemould, Mumbai. She was the recipient of a National Scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resources, and also has to her credit annual awards from the Gujarat Lalit Kala Academy and the national Lalit Kala Academy for her work in the 10th International Triennale – India hosted in New Delhi. In the month of December, the Indian art lost the sensitive artist to a tragedy. She will be remembered as a deep thinker and her repulse through art towards the movement and migration.