SEAMLESS
Seamless was a solo exhibition held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai between 25th September to 1st October, 2006.
For Pratibha Wagh, painting and creating works of art is going beyond the realm of frames and canvases. Basically, she is a good teacher and a very good artist. An artist with the mission to preserve our heritage. An artist with teacher's streak and that reflects in her works. For those who had an opportunity to study her works will vouch for this. Her growth as an artist is evident from her works from the day she started displaying her 'oeuvres'. Though, she started with abstract style, she developed her own style. She had her own way of putting the creations - based on Warli style of paintings. Pratibha gave a contemporary feel to this form of painting, with her canvases and pain brushes.
She made transition from her Warli style to another format which again reminds us of a great heritage. It was her own way of putting things which tells us about Madhubani paintings. Her characters and colours were modern and flashy but that reminded us of old worldly charm of Madhubani paintings. They were eye-catching yet so traditional. An old school of painting with modern and contemporary touch. She had her own characters. A mother. A lover. A bird. An animal. But all her own. An inspiration and an improvisation on some thing we always cherished to see. Her colours were bright. The character spoke with expression in their eyes. So much was said without uttering words. Yeah, her painting and characters had telling effect on all of us.
Those characters have matured along with her style of works based on years of experience. Now, they are based on Chitrakathi, a folk art from Maharashtra. The characters all glow with something subdued, something very soothing to the eyes. Earthy colours and seamless borders convey more that what one wants to see or understand. As a woman, she understands the intricacies of Indian household and also the importance of characters. And most importantly, she understands the importance of preserving of great heritage. Such a modern way of putting those paintings and format in a new style. - A. Purushottam (Critic)
