‘There is nothing preconceived about any of my paintings. Sometimes the viewers infer something from a piece of art much deeper than what the artist construed,’ says lawyer-turned-artist Vani Chandrashekhar.
Chandrashekhar believes that she is merely a medium for creative expression. Her skills have evolved while creating art rather than any formal process of self instruction.
“My paintings are often coloured by a personal mood, vision and memory rather than a mirror of images. For after all, the question is not what you look at but how you see,” the artist tells The Statesman in a telephonic interview.
Chandrashekhar’s second solo exhibition “The Inward Eye” is on at the India International Centre here till August 10. Her medium is acrylic on paper, and her paintings unmistakably derive from her surroundings – be it the hills, plains or inward mindscapes of dreams and memories.
The artist (60) also talks about the frequent use of bold and bright colours on most of her canvases.
“We cannot escape colours, especially in an Indian landscape. These bright colours are there everywhere, then why to sanitize things and make it look subtle and somber? For instance, when you step out, you may come across slum clusters with their walls painted in bold hues. These colours reflect the ambitions and hope of the disadvantaged,” she says.
On the transition from being a lawyer to an artist, Chandrashekhar says the artist in her had always been alive and kicking.
“I started painting since I was a kid. My mother, who belonged to an artistic family, always encouraged me to follow my creative pursuits. I remember my brothers on Rakshabandhan used to gift me Camel crayons rather than a box of chocolates. Sometimes, if they were upset with me, they used to give me the 12-crayon set, otherwise I would get the elaborate (26 crayons) set,” she adds with a laugh.
So why did she start exhibiting quite late in her life? “Well, I have always doubted who would like to see my paintings. I thank my twin brother Valmiki Chandrashekhar and dear friend-lawyer Binny Kalra for pushing me to take my work to a larger audience. I showcased my first exhibition two years ago and since then there has been no looking back,” she says.
Chandrashekhar, whose uncle is the legendary artist and painter J Swaminathan, also adds that she has never been to an art school, which she calls, a conscious decision.
“I have immense respect for accomplished artists who go through the rigours of art education. But I believe you need to have a framework to see and observe things first. I personally did not want a formal construct so I chose not to pursue any education in art,” she reasons.
“Similarly, I am hesitant to call myself an artist because I do not like to be bracketed. I am just an instrument for creativity,” she adds.