The paint brush activist!

Meera Dayal forays into the world of nature preservation with just a paintbrush and a canvas in hand. And what an impact she makes! Her latest exhibition Inscapes II to be held at the Annexe Art Gallery at IIC from 11 to 16 November, moves viewers to think deeply not only about Mother Nature’s beauty, but also her vulnerability. 

The painter asks the viewer to approach each painting as a pure and unique experience, a flight into the unknown, without preconceptions and preparation. Each painting speaks for itself, while at the same time one wonders at the artist’s extraordinary mastery over the art.

Meera’s relationship with nature is deep rooted. Having spent a large part of her childhood in the Himalayas? foothills, the relationship was gradually nurtured and had a huge impact on her sensibility and later also laid the foundation of her work. ‘My message, if I have one, is simply this: Let us preserve Nature. Let us nurture it rather than destroy it in the name of ‘development’.  Trees are essential for the environment and fight pollution in urban areas, so why don’t we plant trees instead of building concrete blocks?’, she emphasizes.

The delicate petals of a deep ? purple pansy, the auburn autumn leaf, a valley of wildflowers playing with the wind- all suggest a beauty to cherish, while reminding one of their strength of perseverance. These are important for the survival of the world, but are now endangered only due to the negligence of man Meera has largely been working in oils, acrylics, pastels, mixed media, pen and ink, water colours etc.  Another feather in her cap is her interest in textiles. She has worked for an export company designing textiles, embroideries, handicrafts and jewellery for many famous stores. At the same time she continued to draw and paint and branched out into the world of publishing. She has designed book covers and did illustrations for many of the leading publishers like Oxford University Press, Penguin India, Kali for Women, Ratna Sagar Books and many others.

When: 11 -16 November, 

Where: IIC ,ANNEXE Art Gallery, Lodhi Road