Railway official Mehrotra wins national honour at Bombay Society exhibition

Executive Director Heritage Railway Board and Contemporary Visual Artist Aashima Mehrotra on Wednesday received the national honour award for her painting ldquoMove Onrdquo at the 134th All India Annual Art Exhibition organised by the The Bombay Art SocietyThe exhibition will be inaugurated on 24 February 2026 at the Jehangir Art Gallery MumbaiThe painting ldquoMove Onrdquo depicts a rickshaw rider resting between journeys suspended in a moment of quiet introspection The vehicle becomes a metaphor for lifersquos continuous movement while the still setting reflects dignity within routine labour The work explores the unnoticed inner worlds that exist behind everyday motionThe Bombay Art Society is among Indiarsquos oldest and most respected fine arts institutions playing a pivotal role in nurturing artistic talent for over a century Many legendary masters showcased their works at this exhibition during their formative yearsThis year from hundreds of submissions received nationwide only around 260 works have been selected making the Professional Category award widely regarded as equivalent to national recognition in the visual artsEarlier Mehrotrarsquos work ldquoLaapataa Ladiesrdquo was selected for the 64th National Exhibition of Art organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi mdash the Akademirsquos flagship annual exhibition celebrating contemporary Indian artistic expressionHer selection was particularly noteworthy as she became among the rare civil servants and the first from Railway Services to have her artwork featured in this prestigious national exhibition The work was widely appreciated for its cultural and spiritual undertones blending Indian aesthetics with a sense of cosmic exploration and inner reflection symbolising a meaningful dialogue between public service and creative practice an art critic saidCurrently serving as Executive DirectorHeritage Railway Board Mehrotrarsquos dual contribution to heritage conservation and contemporary visual arts exemplifies a remarkable fusion of public service and creative expressionRooted in a contemplative studio discipline her artistic practice unfolds at the intersection of memory identity and emotional experience Moving fluidly between figuration and abstraction she works across oil charcoal acrylic and encaustic creating layered luminous surfaces that embody both fragility and strength Her paintings frequently explore the inner landscapes of women mdash resilience silence companionship and becoming mdash transforming personal narratives into universal expressionsHer work has also received recognition from global institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and various international embassies Technical finesse combined with philosophical inquiry lends her art tactile richness and meditative depthWith consecutive recognitions at two of Indiarsquos most respected art institutions Aashima Mehrotrarsquos artistic journey continues to gather national attention positioning her among compelling contemporary voices shaping Indiarsquos visual culture Each honour affirms her artistic vision while reflecting her growing national and international presence