The evolution of Nature has been seen and discussed throughout the centuries in multiple matters like politics, religion and art. The mysterious ways of Nature are quite an inspiration and creative force for artists, be it in its physicality, mystery, environments, or intangible concepts associated with it.

One can say that Nature exists in the form of multiple everchanging layers, and it was a pleasure to uncover those hidden layers as well as the objects and concepts connected to them.

Last month Delhi witnessed ‘The Seven Hues’ by seven contemporary artists in an exhibition held from 24th December – 30th December 2022 at Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhawan, gallery, New Delhi, that vastly depicted the tangibility, layers and mysterious ever-changing aspects of Mother Nature. It was a group exhibition of seven contemporary talented & thoughtful artists from different parts of India, with their line of work connecting them. It was amazing to see how people see the same Nature in a different light and represent it in uncanny techniques to the viewers.

For these seven contemporary artists, Prof Dr Amargeet Chandok, Dr Kumar Jigeeshu, Dr Manoj Balyan, Dr Laxman Prasad, Dr Mithu Dutta, Manish Kumar Gond and Ratna, number seven is the collective presentation full of colours and vivid imagination. A psychological and anthropological examination of the self is exhibited through an anthology of complex emotions describing attachment, memory, belonging, and familial relationships.

The spectrum of colours at play in Prof. Amargeet Chandok’s paintings has intervening forms that are infused with a visual analogy of nature in its various moods whether a melting hue of blue or a flying spirit out of the pain of Covid, the artist has tried to reflect both the pain and hope of survival. The energy of the texture bounces towards the viewer as if entering into their lived memories of the time gone by. Following painterly lines of merging blues, reds, oranges and other hues reveal a mapping of moments being experienced by the artist immersed in spirituality expressed through flying birds and spirits visible in a sublime merging with the supreme being. The high-contrast colour palette and the strokes of the brush incorporate an element of depth in her work. The figures are merged with the brush strokes, causing the eyes to travel along the canvas and get lost in the non-traditional human forms.

“I am not following any specific subject matter. I am looking at what I perceive at the moment…. i.e. its colour, tone texture, shades and beauty and enjoy the flow. Also, my story is about what I believe as my work is a mirror of my imagination, thinking and execution”. says Dr Kumar Jigeeshu who has displayed works of beautiful photography.

Dr Manoj Balyan’s artworks convey the depth of a person’s mind in which he is scuffling with the confusions or complications in his entity. But often the solutions are also around him, invisible to the naked eye and brawled mind. Symbolically, the lock in my portrayal refers to the problems of life and the key symbolizes their solutions. In general, there is no miracle but a person has to enlighten his own significant light.

Dr Laxman Prasad’s works revolve around abstract imagery, and the translucent effect of the colours depicts delicate, yet empowering forms.

“Different physical properties of various materials i.e. mixed media, stone, stainless steel, fibreglass, the softness, hardness, smoothness, roughness, glazed and Matt surface combine like words in poems to create a lyrical ballad that celebrates the pathos of human relation. Human relations and their interaction in society is my point of interest. Interaction of relation that arouses some deeper sense and sensibility, bends realistic form into some simple and abstract volume that expresses remorse and profound solitude. Arising from that pain takes shape in my mind. I try to express them in my artwork. This is my Catharsis”. Says Dr Mithu Dutta

According to Manish Kumar Gond, “In my artwork, I am trying to capture our cultural beauty which belongs to Himachal Pradesh. Due to its Pahari beauty, Himachal is also called Dev Bhumi. I am trying to imitate the colours and forms from society and Nature.”

“Spirituality has always fascinated the human mind and plays an important role in artistic behaviour and creations. My work entails all elements”. says Ratna

Artists take it upon themselves to portray the negative and positive sides of the universe, in the form of their personal, social, political, and economic experiences. This exhibition was a testament to the way professional creatives perceive this world and beyond and put their feelings out for the world to grasp, along with shedding light on some essential matters.