“Into the Abstract”: a digital painting exhibition

Artist and curator Manisha Gawade and Ehsaas are presenting “Into the Abstract”, a digital painting exhibition featuring works by eight artists, from September 24 to October 24. The exhibition brings together Anita Kulkarni, Manisha Gawade, Niladri Paul, Nupur Kundu, Rashmi Khurana, Sangeeta Gupta, Shridhar Iyer and Siraj Saxena.

The works explore perception, emotion, memory, movement and other intangible aspects of human experience through colour, form, texture and visual rhythm. While the artists follow distinct approaches to abstraction, their works share an interest in moving beyond literal representation.

Kulkarni uses chess as a metaphor for choices, identities and uncertainty, while Gawade draws on the cosmic mandala and the idea of creation and dissolution. Paul’s works translate the energy of performing arts into colour and movement, while Kundu’s practice reflects her training in Fine Arts and Kathak.

Khurana uses vibrant colour and textured surfaces to explore identity, memory and lived experience. Gupta combines indigo, Dabu mud-resist, natural dyes and handspun khaddar in works exploring spirituality and material. Iyer draws on nature and Odissi to explore movement and spirituality, while Saxena’s multidisciplinary practice examines the relationship between art, nature and everyday life.

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Founded in 2012 by Gawade and the late Dr Alka Raghuvanshi, Ehsaas is a multidisciplinary arts organisation working across painting, sculpture, dance, music, theatre, textiles and craft. The digital format allows the participating artists to reach audiences beyond the conventional gallery space.

Gawade, curator of the exhibition, said abstraction allows viewers to experience art through their own memories, emotions and perceptions, adding that she wanted to bring together artists with different visual languages.

When: Until October 24

Where: Online, across Ehsaas’s social media platforms