Biography:
Born in India and currently residing
in Dubai, Deepa Gopal, is the conceptualizer and curator of this exhibition “IGNITE-from
within the confines-“ She is inclined towards both painting and poetry and
that is what inspired her to come up with this concept and collaboration. She
loves working with a range of mediums like acrylics, gouache, watercolour, pen
& ink, mixed media, and charcoal; most of her paintings are coupled with
her own Haiku/micro poems as titles. She has done her Masters in English
Language and Literature and is currently working as a freelance visual
artist-art blogger and has displayed her works in the U.A.E and in India.
She started a blog as an online journal in 2009 creating art almost on a daily basis and it became a full-time passion. Hues n Shades is now one of the top Indian blogs.
She is part of the Online National Art Exhibition curated by Sri. Sathyapal Aravindakshan which is currently on since 1 Nov. She has been part of “DISTANT and PERSONAL” (2019) - a group show of four, the 8th All India Women Artists’ Contemporary Art Exhibition (2019), International Mail Art Exhibition by New Hampshire Institute of Art, Peterborough (2019), the Annual State Exhibition of Kerala (2017), a Collateral (community) project under Kashi Art Gallery during Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016, "It's all Square" by The Domino hosted at thejamjar gallery, Dubai, the National Conclave of Visual Art Writers conducted by Kendra Lalitkala Akademi and the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi (2017), among others to name a few. She has curated 2 successful shows and “IGNITE-from within the confines-“ is her third project.
Her 2019 triptych - "Do I see them?/Silenced/Quiet as its kept" has been selected for the upcoming 49th Annual State Exhibition of Kerala 2020 happening in December.
“I art, I write and therefore I am,” is her motto.
Deepa Gopal is paired with Ardra Manasi. To read the poem "Years and Hours" that was inspired by "We're Islands - 3", visit Ardra Manasi.
Artist Statement:
Art is a journey sometimes moving into the core, sometimes outside the line, sometimes along the periphery but unsure of where the lines actually are. Nonetheless, each one undertakes a journey of one’s own since there’s no choice; one simply can’t choose inertia. It is this very thought of not being in inertia that inspired me to conceptualize and curate this exhibition at this time; one of my pet projects that I was harbouring for a long time finally found light with a group of amazing artists and poets. Though I started it on an impulse to do something worthwhile during this time of confinement, it grew profound each day until I managed a team of 16 and then we set sail. Each day since then has been a learning experience for me - visualizing, organizing, preparing, coordinating, conveying and all the elements that go with an online event. I am fortunate to have these wonderful artists and poets as part of IGNITE! To read more about it, please check ABOUT and CURATOR'S NOTE.
Art, in any form, breathes life into me; I find it quite meditative and reflective. “We’re Islands” is a series I started in March when the lockdown began. It is not necessarily a commentary on Covid19 but what I felt during the lockdown confined within the four walls in a foreign land away from the family. I have used watercolours to capture the “fluidity” of the moment; it was not a conscious, pre-meditated choice though. Choosing the medium is always intuitive. some times it does depend on what I choose as a subject. I have also used polychromos, inktense pencils, white gel pen and Pitt pen to achieve the desired effect. I apply washes and then work on layers to get the raw-rustic effect instead of the refined look. I have chosen a limited palette here, a couple of warm and cool colours as I like the mix of both; bright, eye-catchy, palpable colours in most of them to suggest a distinctive, dreamlike introspective emotional state or “mindscapes” as I call them from a strong female presence and perspective.
The limitless mind in general and the inner workings of the feminine in particular captivates me the most. Most of my works are autobiographical. Myths, dreams, people and their tales, the emotions and the unbridled feelings kindle my creative juices. The protagonists create parallel realms and enjoy detachment, solitude but they are rarely alone. There’s melancholic melody and are deeply reflective of their emotional states; exuding a sense of passivity but hopeful and optimistic. The interconnectivity of man and nature, the subtle rhythms that beat through the spine of the environment, the invisible thread that ties us all even when man fails to realize it, is what I like to stress. There’s duality as we are complex beings.
My works tend to delve deep within the self interspersing it with what I hear and/or view from the outside world. How a situation or news hits me is what is reflected in my works. They are stories in layers. At times, there're health instances that quite disturbs my days and processes and overcoming it forms other layers as well. Isolation is nothing new to artists, we actually nurture on it, and yet I craved for home, to be with my family. I suddenly felt trapped, we became units/compartments within the home where one was for school, one for office and I squeezed in between doing art for my own self and sanity.
“We’re Islands” is an ongoing series. It showcases this external and internal turmoil, implications, suffering, and conflict while the lamp of hope is still lambent.
My greatest inspirations are T K Padmini, Amrita Sher-Gil, Paula Rego, Kathe Kollwitz, Frida Kahlo, Lee Krasner, Hilma af Klint, Alice Neel, Paul Klee, Edward Hopper and Aleah Chapin, Lisa Brice and many more.
You can reach Deepa at:
Instagram: @dee.huesnshades
Blog: Hues n Shades
Facebook: Hues n Shades
Email: mail.huesnshades@gmail.com
Beautiful use of colours and portrayal of emotions. The pictures are so evocative. They seem to be talking to me. Such an enriching experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sonia! I am glad it spoke to you!
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