Geeta Vadhera
Artists Statement
I have been painting for more than 20 years now. I have painted
on canvas, on paper, on photographs, on wood, on glass, and
even on a body! I have been trained as a painter in the Delhi
School of Art and have had the privilege of working on solo exhibitions
across several countries and with several people in the
course of my career.
Sometimes, people come to me and ask , "What do your paintings
mean?", or "How do I appreciate your art?". Alas, there is no
formula that I am aware of. The meaning, if any, is within you, the
viewer. It's a function of your own experiences. Often the "meaning"
is wordless. I am reminded of a zen koan - the zen master
keeps filling the cup of tea for his pupil until it overflows and more.
The pupil says, "Stop master.. it is full, it cannot take any more";
to which the master responds, "Yes, and until you empty it, there
would not be any space for more". So, empty your self. Take
some time and view the work. If there is something which invites
you, look deeply. Maybe there is something you find -?
The experience, or impact, is what I attempt to paint. As I experience
life in its many forms, there are some moments which
leave their own indelible impact on me. A visual impact, a presence
which haunts me until I have exorcised it by putting my
brush to the canvas. Each of my works has its own moment of
association and raison d'être. I paint to relate my inner self, my
space, to this association.My invitation to my audience is to allow
just that much space to view, or to relate to, a canvas so that
the painting of a tree isn't just bark and leaves, so that the sea
isn't a body of water. Maybe you discover the lushness within the
tree, or, perhaps the depth of a soul within the sea. This may not
necessarily be the moment I had in mind when I painted, it may
just be your own moment. Perhaps there is a subliminal association.
Yes, there is always the other way of appreciation of Art. Is the
hand in proportion to the head? Does the face look real? Or
surreal? Is the colour-scheme appealing? Is the theme arresting?...
it's a long list...In fact, I've written a series of books on this
subject. But to see only this, is to see the form and not the
content.
Ever noticed it when you go to a gallery, view a painting and feel
entranced? Why is it that we spend so much time in appreciating
that one piece in the entire show? We say, "This painting strikes
me", without knowing fully why. Perhaps there has been a wordless
association of a memory which has made you relate to the
same visual as the artist? This response, when evoked, is my
greatest reward as an artist. That's when I know that I am successful.
This is me. And then there are some moments, associations and
landmarks which define and shape us over the years. This profile
is an attempt to outline some of these.
Highlights
Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, London
BFA, Delhi College of Art.
Indian Classical Vocal Music, Allahabad Advanced Photography,
Lycee Technique Estienee, Paris. CEE, Design (Visual Communication),
IIT, Bombay
30 solo exhibitions of paintings across Europe, Australia, South East
Asia and India.
Research in Concrete Poetry, International Archives, Selb, Germany.
Plates of the works have been permanently preserved
Running own art gallery - Studio Geeta Vadhera - in Noida, a suburb
of New Delhi
Illustrator of books for children. Over 1000 books illustrated for publishers
in Europe, South East Asia and India
Design assignments for Christan Dior, Paris and Treasey Loewe,
London. Chief Designer and Fashion Co ordinator, Export Division,
Central Cottage Industries Corporation, New Delhi
Creative planner, Festival of Arts, New Delhi - produced curtain raiser
audio visual - which was presented to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime
Minister
TV producer with Doordarshan India - produced weekly "Arts
Diary"Radio producer with All India Radio and BBC New Delhi
Released Book titled " Ansh"; an anthology of poems based on Concrete
Poetry. Designed series of 5 books - "An Introduction to Art"
conceived and designed for children
Awarded Bharat Nirman Award for important contribution in the field
of Art, New Delhi
Exhibitions
Outside India
"Rik", Show based on the Rig Veda, Jacques Place, Turin
"Rik", Galerie Anne Marie Rey, Nice
"Time and Space", At Opening of India House, Bonn
"Aru", Show based on Isovasya Upanishad, La Finestrella
Galerie d'Arte, Canelli
"Aru", Audio visual and paintings, Lycee Technique Estienee,
Paris
"Aru", Urban Development Authority, Singapore
"Aj", Show based on Kabir's Sakhis, Funan Centre, Singapore
"Aj", with Audiovisual and lecture, Alliance Francaise, Singapore
"Ank", Show based on the Rig Veda, At the Opening of India
House, Bonn
"Sarvam", works based on the essence of the Bhagwad Geeta,
Singapore Festival of Arts; supported by audio visual and jazz
ballet tap dance by Karen Clarke, Imperial Hotel, Singapore
"Sarvam", Alliance Francaise, Singapore
"Grenzbereiche der Konkreten Kunst", Forum Konkreten Kunst,
Erfut, Germany
"Aksh - The Weave" , Calligraphic paintings, 27th World Book
Fair, Singapore
"The She Shadow", on aspects of womanhood, Singapore
"Saam - An Act of Space" - Tours, France
Within India
“Tharro Tharâ€, Galerie Leela, Mumbai
“Jogia Dhoopâ€, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
"Ansh", Exhibition on Concrete Poetry, AIFACS, New Delhi
"Ansh", Museum of Fine Arts, Chandigarh
"Sogarda", Exhibition of the Society of Graphic Designers, Lalit
Kala Akademi, New Delhi (Participant)
All India Art Exhibition, Lucknow
All India Art Exhibition, Banaras
National Sahitya Kala Parishad Exhibition, New Delhi
Show of Awic (Writers and Illustrators Association), India International
Centre, New Delhi (Participant)
The She Shadow", on aspects of womanhood, New Delhi
Media Coverage
Press
"Introducing an Indian Genius of Arts", Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore
"Translating Philosophy into Pictures", The Straits Times, Singapore
"Mostra di artisti internazionali", il Canellese, Turin
"A One Woman Mission", Female, Singapore
"Artist with a Poets Heart", The Straits Times, Singapore
"An Artist's Absolute View of the Universe", The Straits Times,
Singapore
"Spiritual States on Scrolls", The Straits Times, Singapore
"Sanskrit Inspires an Artist Fond of the Abstract", The Sunday
Times, Singapore
"Lukisanjadi jurukap' Geeta", Berita Harian, Penang
"Grande Interesse", Trentagiorni, Turin
"Geeta", Nouvelle Republique, Poitou
"A Journey from point to the whole", Lien, Singapore
Tamil Murasu, Singapore
"De L'Essentiel A L'Absolu", Lien, Singapore
"Cultural Exposition", Il Giornale Dell'Art, Turin
"Importante Iniziativa ENFAC, Beffroi, Paris", Trentagiorni, Turin
"Konstruktivisumus", Fevilleton, Bonn
"Where Words Are Concrete Poetry", The Indian Express,
Chandigarh
"Les Tapisseries du Punjab", Centre Culturel du Beffroi, Tours
"Arts et vie", Nice Matien, Nice
..and numerous pieces in the Hindustan Times, The Times of
India, Statesman, The Indian Express in India
Television
Singapore Broadcasting Corp.
Channel I, Paris
Nice Matin, Paris
Kohl TV, Bonn
Frankfurt Kulturel, Frankfurt
ABC, Australia
Zee TV
Doordarshan, India
Radio
Singapore
France - Paris
France - Tours
BBC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Germany
All India Radio
Lectures
"Movement, Space and Self Within", St.Patrik's Fine Arts, Singapore
"Creativity and Children", Bahruddin Educational Institute, Singapore
"Illustration, Media and Medium", Kim Sing Technical School,
Singapore
"The Absolute", CDISC Hindu Studies Section, Singapore
"Parts and the Whole", Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
"Weave in Time", Imperial Hotel, Singapore
"Rig Veda", La Salle, Singapore
"Inhale and Exhale", Beffroi, Tours
"Form and Content", India House, Bonn
"Art and Movement", Tasmania University, Tasmania
"Content and Space", National University of Canberra, Canberra
"Art Appreciation", Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
"Art Appreciation", IIT, New Delhi
"Visual Communication", Indian Institute of Mass Communication,
New Delhi
"Children and Art Education", NCERT, Pune
"A Vision: Concrete Poetry", State Museum of Art, Chandigarh
Paintings in Collection
(Prominent Organizations and Establishments)
Studio Annja, Scottsdale, Phoenix
Westin Stamford Hotel, Singapore
Westin Plaza Hotel, Singapore
Embassy of France, Singapore
Royal Norwegian Embassy, Singapore
Ministry of Communications & Information, Singapore
Ministry of Urban Development, Singapore
Alliance Francaise, Singapore
Mighty Minds, Singapore
Festival of Arts Pte. Ltd., Singapore
International Archives of Concrete Poetry, Selbe
India House, Bonn
Centre d' Beffroi, Tours
L' Cinemathique, Tours
Galerie Anne Marie Rey, Nice
Lycee Technique Estienee, Paris
Centre for Contemporary Arts, Turin
Canberra University, Canberra
Frank Brothers, New Delhi
Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi
Bell Ceramics, New Delhi
Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Delhi
Bharat Carbon & Ribbon, New Delhi
... and with numerous private collectors in France, Australia,
Germany, Switzerland, Malaysia, India and USA.
Asscociations
Fellow, Royal Society of Art, London
Managing Trustee, Sarvodaya International Trust
Trustee, Academy of Visual Media
Vice President, Lioness Club
Member, All India Women.s Conference
Member, All India Writers and Illustrators for Children
Comment awaiting approval.