Texture, form and colour have always captivated the attention of Padma Siri. Seamlessly overlapping textures and images is her passion. The artist with a degree in Applied Arts from JNAFAU currently has a series of paintings titled ‘Camouflage’ on display at the Iconart Gallery, and we talk to her about her artistic vision and her recent experiments with semi-abstract compositions.
“My earlier works were largely figurative and strongly contoured. But gradually, I started working with open spaces and semi-realistic or purely abstract compositions and found them very intriguing. I played with colours and mediums, using acrylic paints, gels, textures and charcoal sticks to create a special niche for myself. The series that is currently on display has imagery absorbed and inspired from nature, but mostly camouflaged in the surrounding space”, Padma says.
Her works contain light, hazy representations of natural elements, leaving open space to be a prominent aspect of the artist’s dialogue. Intricate textural expanses conceal forms that gradually make their presence felt upon closer inspection. It’s clear to see that multiple layers of treatment have gone into achieving the balance between transparent and opaque. A mystical colour palette and simplified brush strokes grant the compositions an other-worldly charm.
Padma Siri
Talking about her relationship with her paintings, Padma, who considers the creative process to possess meditative qualities, says, “It is believed that colours have healing powers. According to practitioners of Indian meditation, the seven chakras in our body have seven colours. These chakras are able to imbibe powers to heal the body and soothe the mind. Through my work, I aspire to unravel the intricate strength of paintings and also bring forth a kind of ecstasy for viewers to experience.”
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