THEMES
Nayanaa’s work typifies the best characteristics of this genre–the air of whimsy. As a contemporary artist, her work is a reflection of the changing face of our nation, through the images of the notable celebrities and public figures, the urban elite, and the common man on the street.Her paintings depict the various faces of India–Lifestyles past and present–weddings, bazaar(market) scenes, vehicles, ancient sports, beach compositions, many of which with economic growth will eventually disappear.
Each depiction is charged with innocuous humor personifying the subtle ironies that permeate daily life, which lay in harmony, and yet in conflict with the collision of East and West. She reflects on the charming idiosyncrasies of her subjects with a fine degree of wit and gentle satire.
Distinguished Company (2007)
This exhibition a major landmark in her career. She writes:
“My work is based on the timeless themes and experiences of the masters. Delving into the psychological experiences and socio- economic conditions which prompted them to paint, what they did, I have taken valuable inputs from their paintings and incorporated them into my signature style. I have portrayed the powerful influences that their artwork has left on society today. By innovatively mirroring images that once mirrored life, I have achieved a connection between the eminent artist, his works and our contemporary world.”
A City Wakes Up Inside Me (2010)
The unforgettable 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai gave birth to this collection.The artist says, “Mumbai - the city of dreams and opportunities was shattered on 26/11 2008 and held to ransom by a bunch of terrorists challenging the nerve of the city. The burning city fired my creativity.”
This series shows the importance of the city in our daily existence and understanding the metamorphosis in the social and architectural make-up of a metropolis. Her work portrays emotionally charged moments of seemingly ordinary people faced with their day-to –day situations. Human elements are placed provocatively against a background of entire streets/cities. The interiors have people living their lives and emotions and existence.
Beyond The Scenes(2012)
In this collection, her works are charged with innocuous humour personifying the subtle ironies that permeate daily life, which lay in conflict with the collision of the East and West.
A picture of the moment is built up in which whole histories and relationships are made visible. These paintings are moments of pleasure held forever. They are about time and time in paintings is movement stilled. There is a sense of fun that is sometimes picaresque, that verges hesitantly on the erotic, but excels in the shrewd tongue-in –cheek observation of individual psychology and the customs and manners of groups.
The acute static demeanor of my portrayals lends itself to movement through the vehicles of vibrant, dynamic colours, the composition of patterns, the air of whimsy and the extraordinary plethora of intricately worked details.
The Great Outdoors (2014)
Unlike the constant obligations that demand something of us, the great outdoors gives something to us- a sense of coming home, of regaining our lost innocence, of finding peace at last.
My paintings are varying angles of a single prism. Society continues to forge ahead in scientific advancement, seeming to accelerate the divide in our connection to nature. And yet, we find ways to bring the outside back into our lives, at times subconsciously, at times with great perspective and intention.
Ultimately, the goal and thus the journey remains the challenge to balance the polarity of the worlds in which we reside. This exhibition was motivated by showing how important it is to conserve our environment .The results would be disastrous if we do not take adequate steps from now itself.
The Journey Of Life (2015)
The journey of life takes on many hues, shapes and patterns which are in constant motion as one progresses from childhood to adolescence and onto old age. Each painting has the potential for several meanings, one revealed by the presence of colours juxtaposed carefully to form a harmonious whole, one revealed by the intricate patterns and details, and one revealed by the underlying content and narration. Thus, what appears to be a choice of method (a technique involving four layers of colour) proves to be the seeds, sun, and water of a highly complex organism of construction.
In short, one can grasp the complexity and nuance of my paintings and my vision only after abandoning our typical notions and then keenly observing the relationships and components at play. The projected images serve as a veneer, behind which an infinite number of experiences and interpretations are possible. Behind the pedantically, accurate and misseen –scene, the world is so true, naked and ludicrous that we catch our breath as we recognize it.
The Quintessential Woman - A Celebration (2018)
This collection celebrates and honours the indefatigable, indefeasible and invincible woman. She has succeeded against all odds and has pierced the glass ceiling, thereby breaking the barriers and mindset of gender discrimination which many societies across the world, particularly in India, struggle with. The saga of the Durki Nari is far from over, but fortunately this perception of a woman has been challenged and slowly yet steadily is coming to an end.
My paintings portray a woman of today, her space of survival, the spirit of female endurance and the empowerment of pride and self dignity. This modern woman is liberated and unfettered by the stigmas of the past. Having faced the deeply rooted stereotypes myself and having experienced and observed at close quarters many atrocities faced by women has turned the indignant scrutiny coming from my conscious being into an expression of artistry. When these two perspectives come together, when the world that disturbs me and the world which I have an intimate understanding of are amalgamated and absorbed, a new artistic dialect is created, taking inspiration from Goddess Durga and her nine Avatars.
On The Inimitable Spirit of Life (2022)
“Her visuals provide a frame through which you peep into these painted snapshots of ordinary people with a myriad of fantastical elements like the creatures of wildlife propping up in compositions like a flamingo at the foot of the couch, a zebra peeping in through the window, monkey eating a banana crouched behind a woman. This synthesis of reality with fantasy, of lush green with a synthetically crafted interior, is meshed in a dreamlike nuance. It may be perceived as an ironic juxtaposition of what the balance of ecology has become today or the sheer vibrancy of the composition as a whole clasp on to a utopian vision that cradles a sense of harmony amongst the living. Through this exhibit, Kanodia is examining various angles of a single prism. At first glance, you see a portrayal of a quaint scene but upon further examination, an integrated multilayered expression is revealed as the artist believes that one can only grasp the complexity and nuance of the vision she holds, only after abandoning typical notions and then keenly observing the relationships and components at play.” - Utpreksha Saidwal
A Tryst with Destiny (2023)
“After the trauma , shock and melancholy of the pandemic years, we have now made peace with our tryst with destiny. We now survive with materiality, joy, sorrow and humor. Through my brightly coloured paintings with figures looking straight out from the canvas, I bring a contemplative mirror effect in the viewer’s mind, in which the duality of observer and observed gradually disappears. Another chief element of my work is multiple narrations in one frame with vivacious depictions of visual symbols of everyday life, intricate patterns and details where I present a picture within a picture to indicate toward the experiential perplexity rooted in the multiplicity of reality. I believe in constructing fantastic versions of accessible scenes, both rural and urban utopias. A picture of the moment is built in which whole histories and relationships are made visible. My work is all about time and through my paintings, time is movement held still. Behind the pedantically accurate and yet often misjudged scene, the world is so true, naked and ludicrous that we gasp as we recognize it. In spite of the lure of the luxurious comforts of home, man embraces nature. Ideas flow, senses come alive, and we come to terms with our existence and our destiny. I explore this aspect in my visual narrative. My body of work shows the close bond man has with nature, a union that helps him regain his lost innocence, enjoying a solace that can be derived from the peace and quiet of our environment. Although a number of the paintings are set indoors, trees, foliage and birds are skillfully integrated, the works evoke the light and sensation of wandering in an ornamental garden.” Nayanaa Kanodia
