‘Swarna Dhara’ – a series of paintings inspired by the Ganga, a solo art exhibition, is being showcased at Arpana Caur Fine Art Gallery in New Delhi. Sonali Durga Chaudhari’s exhibition, showcasing the majesty of the river, began on 14 November and will be held till 24 November 2023, from 11 am to 7 pm.
Artist Sonali Durga Chaudhari said, “My paintings depict the strength and beauty of nature. The power of nature in its untamed aspect fascinates me and though most of us have forgotten it, we are an integral part of nature. Nature is the greatest inspiration for one to learn continuously. As a human being, I believe in overcoming obstacles and adversity and triumphing in the journey of life. My artworks highlight the transformation of the human spirit from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light and from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of bliss. For me, pure bliss means being one with the universal consciousness or the supreme energy which pervades this entire universe. Like the mighty Ganga, I flow through life, through everything it has to offer.”
A nomad at heart, Sonali’s eyes are forever looking beyond the horizon. Her first interaction with the river Ganga was as a child, travelling to Rishikesh with her maternal grandparents. “That image of the golden river flowing in front of me is imprinted in my mind, like it was just yesterday,” said Sonali. This imprint gets represented seamlessly in her works that celebrate the moods of the river.
‘Swarna Dhara’, is a series of works created to celebrate the majesty of Ganga, flowing without any hindrances in the Himalayas, its ability to inspire people, the joy of sustaining physical life and evoking the divine within each one of us. The magnificent Himalayas, the flowing Ganga, fishes swimming with freedom, the temples on the banks all find representation on her canvas. It is also an entirely new series following her recent exhibition “Waters of life” at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, India which was very well received. Swarna Dhara, the exhibition of paintings is thus an invitation to soak in the grandeur of nature in more ways than one through the understanding of Sonali, the artist.
Sonali Durga Chaudhari is born and brought up in New Delhi. Her works are inspired by her extensive travels in the Himalayan regions and the Upper Gangetic belt. She is also a recipient of the ‘Iconic women creating a better World for all’, an award conferred by the Women Economic Forum. She has also received an award for her contribution in the field of Art from the Indian Council for UN Relations.