A recent exhibition by 30 ‘Rangrez’ artists – Avenues of Wonder – showcases how the world has been shaped by numerous, inexplicable landmarks and experiences making it endearing to live in

From sun-kissed, snowy peaks to man-made monuments, from celebrating nature’s glory to serenading the soul, creativity took on multiple avatars as artists belonging to Rangrez poured out their innermost feelings to collectively portray how the world has been evolving over the years with the human element as its cynosure.

Curated by Rema Sivakumar and Nandana Kouli, two extremely talented members of the group of Indian artists in Oman, the exhibition, titled ‘Avenues of Wonder’, which was showcased virtually, presented 50 dynamic artworks which indicate how the world has been shaped by so many beautiful landmarks, people, and experiences which seem miraculous, and often inexplicable. It was the result of painstaking efforts by the curators who focussed on putting together a story with many layers to it – one that is filled with wonders, which often go unnoticed.

Nandana is a professional civil engineer and a successful artist who has exhibited her artworks in various galleries as well as volunteered in art shows for different causes. Rema, too, is an accomplished artist who has been residing in Oman for more than fifteen years and has been expressing herself in acrylics, oil and mixed media in various exhibitions and galleries.

“Both our curators worked very hard to present a delightful show which was a feast to the eyes as we witnessed 50 beautiful pieces of art made by 30 talented artists in various mediums. It was an amalgamation of wonders of this world through the eyes of our artists that cannot be faithfully portrayed by words alone,” said founder-member Sushmita Gupta.

Here are insights into some of the works displayed:

Achal Parag Zoting

Sunrise at Mount Everest

‘Sunrise at Mount Everest’ was created with texture, acrylic, and a little gold leaf. Sunrise at the mountain symbolises a new beginning for everything with growth that has been cherished from the beginning. As this is my first participation, it is a new beginning for me, as well. Our lives are a lot like a mountain with many ups and downs, but once we are over with it, the top view is magnificent.

Nandana Kouli

Flashback to beautiful moments

‘Flash back to beautiful moments’ portrays a recollection of my most precious memories with my family. This collection of memories depicts all the places I had visited with them – Taj-Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum (Rome), London bridge, Statue of Liberty, Oman, etc. Here, I and my husband are sitting on a boat with our two daughters staring at all our precious moments unfold in front of us like a movie. To me, ‘wonders of the world’ are places and experiences that completely change our worldview.

Rekha Ravikumar

Temple architecture

Temples always bring a sense of calm when I visit them and also resonate a feeling of positivity. Having said that, I really enjoyed painting this temple that has a brilliant contrast of colours, and light and shade, with an interesting perspective to it’s interiors. The temple also had lots of interesting elements on its facade, including dilapidated sculptures and rugged stone finishes which made it challenging to work. I always love to travel and see beautiful places and I enjoy the rich culture and architecture of the place.

Charanjit Kaur

Flowers

I love fresh flowers. I love to decorate my house with flower arrangements made of fresh flowers. Hence the same is reflected in my painting. I feel, fresh flowers bring on a feeling of calmness, comfort, and life into any room. They are a beautiful symbol of life and remind us that we need to make our own life beautiful in just the same manner as all existence in nature is beautiful.

Sarika Talwar

Shades of blue – underwater wonders

My medium of artwork being ‘mix media’, it always reflects on the diversity of creatures that exist underwater. The deep sea, being the heart of the planet where several undiscovered beings live, gave rise to a curiosity about learning more about this, as well as incorporating it into my painting for this exhibition. I can never stop being fascinated by the wonders of the underwater world.

Dr Dipty Shrivastava

Shashvat

My artwork is based on the beauty of Taj Mahal which was built by emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. My art conveys that pure love is the ‘soul of life’ and that it remains forever. My painting ‘Shashvat‘ means ‘timelessness’ depicting the beauty of Taj Mahal, the timeless symbol of love. Taj Mahal is India’s national symbol of pride, and no doubt, it is one of the wonders of the world.

Vaishali Sachin Thakar

Terror

The tiger is a dynamic animal who’s terror lies in its eyes. I like this animal.

Again, through creation of this animal, nature gives proof of its detailed design – the stripes on a tiger’s body are so symmetrical, prominent, and beautiful, it is unique combination of beauty and terror. I am really amazed by this animal and so it features in my work, too.

Dr Nagratna Dharmendran

Tot Zeins

‘Tot Zeins‘ (See you later, in Dutch) is one such moment captured through my art wherein anyone would aspire to revisit fond places or recreate cherished moments, whenever possible. Herengracht is one of the 10 famous streets of Amsterdam, the city of old-world charm. Being a travel lover, my memories of the street is attached to the historic monuments aligned parallel to incredible canal houses set up along the water canal, bikes parked alongside, and coffee shops. It reminds me of my visit and my craving to go back there.

Curators speak:

Rema Sivakumar

With support from Rangrez members, we managed to overcome challenges and curate this exhibition within a short time span. It was a learning experience.

Nandana Kohli

Curating is both, challenging as well as exciting. It is a creative part of any exhibition which calls for rethinking and reviewing the theme from a wider angle