The Art by Dr Ved Prakash Bhardwaj - HTML preview

The Art

All the artists express different aspects

a character in a play, similarly Lalitha ji used to of human life in their way of which some are

create characters in her paintings. Life is also common. Despite living in different cultures and a drama. This world is a big stage on which we geographical conditions, there is a surprising

are playing our respective roles. Lalithaji kept similarity in some situations in human life. This expressing this thing in pictorial language.

is the reason why we find similarities with many The relatively long figure of a woman in

artists in the world.

her paintings was considered an expression of

It was probably Guru Dutt’s influence feminine aspirations. But this tall figure, which or it was an instinct somewhere in her that she was often taller than the male figure, also

composed each picture like a frame in a cinema.

represents the Indian family and the role of

Many of her paintings, if seen together as a series, women in maintaining and managing it. Instead

would seem like we are watching a still film. This of women’s liberation, women’s consciousness

artistic quality was later reflected in the films of was their main voice.

his daughter, filmmaker Kalpana Azmi. Dramatic

Lalitha ji was a very sensitive and kind—

elements abound in the works of both Lalitha ji

hearted artist. Once in 2015, when I was living

and Kalpana ji. Dramaticism happens not only in

in Mumbai, I had the opportunity to meet and

theater or film but also in life, which creates an interact with him at Jehangir Art Gallery. Like her impression of dynamism in Lalithaji’s paintings.

art, she was clear about life and human relations.

Performance can be seen in her paintings at two

I still remember her words that an artist should levels, the level of emotion and the level of body be like his art. You create something and live language. Just as an actor or actress presents

something else, this duality takes you nowhere.

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