Sackville artist Indu Varma aimed to share a slice of Canada with her native India by showcasing 13 of her mixed-media paintings in Jaipur, a city in the western province of Rajasthan. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of New Brunswick, especially places like the Bay of Fundy and Tantramar Marsh, Varma employs various techniques using different media to bring depth to her paintings.
The Canadian Vistas exhibition, held at the Kalaneri Art Gallery, serves as a sequel to her previous exhibition, Canadian Landscapes, exhibited at the same venue in 2019. Varma, speaking from Jaipur, expressed the sentiment, “India is my first home. Canada is my second home. It’s a country that I chose. That’s where I live, and I’m a passionate Canadian. So I wanted to share the beautiful country where I live and where I’ve lived for over five decades with the people of Jaipur, people of India. I still have a strong connection.”
Born in India and having lived in Jaipur, Varma moved to Canada in 1969 and has been a resident of Sackville for more than five decades. After retiring from a 37-year career in education, she earned a bachelor’s degree in visual arts from the University of Moncton in 2016. Since then, she has dedicated her time to her art.
Varma explained that all 13 paintings displayed in Jaipur were inspired by what she observed in and around Sackville, such as migratory birds, sailboats, fishing villages, fall colors, melting ice, the Fundy coast, hockey, and Canada geese. She emphasized that her art captures the essence of living in the moment and draws inspiration from the lessons that nature imparts through birds, plants, and animals.
Many viewers in Jaipur expressed a desire to visit Canada after seeing Varma’s art, with some stating that the paintings made them relive their time in Canada. Others who haven’t visited Canada expressed a strong interest in experiencing its natural beauty firsthand.
Saumya Sharma, founder of Kalaneri Art Gallery, shared her excitement about hosting Varma for the second time, noting that Jaipur residents have a keen interest in art depicting beautiful landscapes. Sharma emphasized the gallery’s role in introducing the new generation to diverse artistic mediums and artists in their own city.
Feedback from senior artists who visited the gallery suggested that Varma’s new collection displayed more meaningful strokes and professional maturity in her technique and use of color. Over 60 people visited the exhibition, describing it as “calming,” and several inquired about purchasing paintings.
Sharma acknowledged that the future of Varma’s paintings would be decided after a conversation with the artist. Varma acknowledged the difficulty of transporting all the originals back to Sackville but expressed her willingness to make decisions based on demand.
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