The mystic elements

There's tantra, Sufism, and environmentalu00a0concern in Seema Kohli's works, on display Banglore now
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Seema Kohli has been a professional painter for over 25 years and myths, spiritual and philosophy find their way smoothly in all her works.

She, like every kid began painting when young. But, had a desire to express what she had gathered and interpret it in myriad ways, which came to life with her growing flair for art. She says, "Painting and drawing had always been my language," and she uses this medium to spread her thoughts.

Each of her works on display has a totally different meaning of life. In Viprete Day & Night, a black and red painting where we see two figures moving towards each other. She says, "Opposites are constantly moving together and the point where they meet is unity." While the red colour represents day with its movements, the dark colours represent night, a time for contemplation and rejuvenation. Likewise in the Gandharva series, she says, "Gandharva are the flying positive energies, which are auspicious and constantly surround us." Here she wants to capture the imagery of those flying bodies, which she calls, "the fragrance that envelops us."

After studying applied art for three years, Seema plunged into painting. With a spiritual upbringing, she says, "It was a very secular environment at home," that was followed by regular visits of Sufis and the likes, which got her interested in philosophy.

"I then went to study European philosophy, as I did not know much about it," she says.u00a0 With her paintings with a philosophical bent, wouldn't people find it tough to comprehend the surreal meaning, we wonder? She begs to differ," People connect with me, and if at all I do connect with them, then the circle of communication is complete."

The 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita has inspired the painting, titled, "The Inverted tree of life," She says, "This has lots to do with human life being the same as the Banyan tree. The leaves are like scriptures. When they fall, they are like manure for the plant. In the same way, knowledge is manure for us humans."

In the painting titled, "The Golden Womb," she says, "I have worked on this for the past 12 years." This painting has a lot to do with the scriptures, which consider the womb, the first egg as the body of creation. "Our sages considered it as the sun and without that, nothing exists." "This is constantly captivating me," she says. It's not just a biological womb she is dealing with here, but a situation where birth and re-birth occur and no death takes place.
She was quite happy with the art scene in the city. She says, "Most who came, had a conversation with me and wanted to know more. I was thoroughly happy with the response over here. Art enthusiasts are quite aware about the various philosophy too."
At Mahua Art Gallery, 344/8, 1st Floor, 4th Main Road, Sadashiva Nagar
What Solo Art Exhibition: Mystical Narratives
On till December 7
Call 2361 6971