Nature inspired art show

An Exhibition titled "108 – The Power of 9" was recently held at Shridharani Gallery.

Sabia, the artist derives and renews her creative energy from nature and she endows it to her depicted characters – squirrels, birds, deer. Nature, in Sabia's work becomes that invisible blotting paper which absorbs the imbalances that Indian society creates for its women. Her works of art have a child-like innocence and simplicity, her motifs and symbols are very pure and generally revolve around 'Nature' and 'Women'.

This time Sabia derived inspiration for her exhibition from the universal number108. Hindus have traditionally revered 108 as the holy number – it is believed that its root lies in the number 9 which is indestructible. Sabia has also tried to find the real meaning of the number 108 – by coupling it with nature and to great effect. The exhibition showed the aesthetic advantage of using 108 as the inspiration and nature as the anchor.

The exhibition had two series – her drawings (on rice paper) that were 108 in number and the other series contained her elaborate paintings, which had 108 numbers of elements. These elements are numerous – from semul flowers to squirrels, to deers to birds, 108, but they all blend well in nature.

Sabia has always been exquisite in bringing nature onto her canvases. Her flat colours including the Indian yellow, raw sienna, her crimsons, her indigos have brought to life the real landscape of India.

Her Ramachandran touch has made it sure that wherever these canvases will hang, they will bring the outdoor hope, indoors with them into the urban spaces from where gardens have now escaped. Sabia who has also recorded nature and its creatures in other mediums shall be the balm and therapy of our overcrowded horizons.