The stunning scenic beauty and culture of Kashmir has inspired many artists. Delhi-based Alok Uniyal is the latest on this list of artists who have made Kashmir their muse.
Highlighting the life and culture of the local people — their traditional attire, the musical instruments they use, their daily life and more, Uniyal’s work is all about the positivity that people often miss in that region. “We hear all the negative news about Kashmir, and because of this, people have an impression that it’s not a peaceful land. My works show the happiness that this land has to offer,” says Uniyal.
Titled, Paradise Regained, the ongoing show at Gallerie Ganesha has 23 works by the artist. Mainly drawn in hues of green and blue, the images very subtly capture the scenes on Dal Lake. One of the works, titled, In a Green Morning, shows a couple sitting in a garden. The background, forefront and the figures are done in hues of green. “Green is the colour for happiness and prosperity. It’s about the hope that every individual from that land aspires,” says Uniyal.
Another work, titled, Floating Market, shows local people traditionally dressed in pherans sitting on Shikaras. The striking part is the colour of the water, which is red as compared to the colour of green and blue that follows the theme of Uniyal’s work. Is it to show disturbance? “There is no negativity in my works, only a sense of introspection coupled with the hope,” he says.
{{/usCountry}}Another work, titled, Floating Market, shows local people traditionally dressed in pherans sitting on Shikaras. The striking part is the colour of the water, which is red as compared to the colour of green and blue that follows the theme of Uniyal’s work. Is it to show disturbance? “There is no negativity in my works, only a sense of introspection coupled with the hope,” he says.
{{/usCountry}}This is not for the first time Uniyal has brought a city’s landscape alive on canvas, as he created a series of paintings around Kolkata (2007), Goa (2008) and Delhi (2010). “I went to Kashmir in October last year, and despite the fact that the state has faced such turmoil, it still retains its mesmerising natural beauty and charm. This inspired me a lot,” he says.
Catch it live
What: Paradise Regained, an art show
When: On till November 14
Timings: 11am to 7pm
Where: Gallerie Ganesha, E-557, Greater Kailash - II
Nearest Metro Station: Nehru Place on the Violet Line