Series on cows in a riot of colors

A collection of paintings depicting the 'Navarasas' interspersed with Indian mythology and a series on cows catches the eye at the Pictorial Exotica exhibition here.
"When people around us are rioting in the name of cow protection, I have drawn cows in a riot of colours," says artist Deepti Gupta, whose work is on display at Triveni Kala Sangam here.
Dancing forms, minimalist figures and large blocks of vibrant colors dominate her work.
"I camouflage the figures into forms and loud colours. The cow series is a reflection of the society I live in. I have seen my mother feeding the cow first thing in the morning. It is an innocent animal, yet its condition is pitiable, especially in the cities.

"Having said that, I do not feel anyone has the right to dictate what we should eat and what not. Targeting people in the name of cow protection is barbaric," she says.
'Pictorial Exotica' displays paintings of mythological characters like Buddha, Radha, Mahishasur, Kali, Ganesha, Hanuman etc in a modern setting. Case in point is Gupta's 47x79 inch 'Ganesha on a Truck' painting.

"It took me months to get the composition of the painting right. I have shown a stout Ganesha moving atop a truck, taking in the view of a city. As artists, we let our imagination run wild and it is interesting to ponder how our gods will look like in contemporary settings," Gupta says.

"It can be a paradox but I am not a religious person.
Although I have worked largely with Indian mythology and Gods, I believe that making a beeline for temples and performing rituals do not bring you close to the Almighty. I find God to be a neutral force; he is with the sinner and the angel," she says.
Gupta, who has exhibited her work in Australia, Tasmania and Singapore, says Indian art is widely appreciated abroad.
"Australia and Tasmania are famous for their aboriginal paintings. People there have immense respect for Indian art that is ancient and so rich in colors," she says.

Gupta, who was a graphic designer and a teacher, before she switched to art completely, says she wants to die as an artist.
"My mentor Swapan Bhandari helped me find my calling. Though, it was difficult to set aside a well-paying job and plunge into an 'unstable' field like art, I took the shot as I want to be known as an artist first. Moreover, your passion gives you the courage to take risks," she says.
Talking about her work, Gupta says she draws a lot of animals and nature, and wants to revive the 'Fauvist art' movement in the country.

"Fauvism focuses on strong colors over forms and figures. Henri Matisse and Andre Derain invented the style. This technique is not widely used in India. I want to bring it back to the art circle," she says.
"I have done series of paintings on animals. I have drawn strong creatures like lions, tigers as well as sensitive ones like cows. Though they do not speak our language, animals communicate with us in various ways. My paintings are an interpretation of this factor, whether it is a bird calling out for its little ones or others looking out for food," she says.