Salonika Meattle Aggarwal’s paintings might look like a mere piece of art to you but every element on the canvas comes with a deeper meaning. Read on to know more about the artist’s love for symbolism and significance behind the use of different elements. There are different plants and animals that one you can see in Salonika Meattle Aggarwal’s paintings. But they have not been added because she wanted to fill in white spaces on canvas. Symbolism is the most prominent aspect of her paintings. One element that stands common in all her artworks is the use of succulents. This, she says, is done on purpose. “In Feng Shui, succulents signify abundance. So, if someone wants to create wealth, they should have succulents around them. Jade plant is the luckiest succulent for creating wealth. I love adding jade plants in my paintings,” she shares. Salonika dedicates abundant time in thinking about plants before making a painting. In fact, she purposely adds some lucky plants, as they add positivity to an abode, without making any effort. “I like putting orchids and jade as they are the luckiest plants. In one of the paintings, you will see red salvia. It has been added as it is extremely good for health. If someone wants good health, they should have red salvia around them. Similarly, bamboo symbolises good health and brings strength. Sansevieria (also known as Mother-in-law’s tongue) is a protective plant. It helps in warding off evil eye. I have also used banana leaves in some artworks. They boost confidence, symbolise freedom and are considered extremely sacred in Hindu mythology,” she explains. When asked why butterflies, bees and ladybirds are a part of all artworks, she replied, “They have been added as they bring good luck. If you see the way in which bees are made, they should not have the ability to fly. But, despite their structure, they fly. Then, they are important for pollination and are called miracle insects. So, they are lucky in that sense. Ladybirds bring luck but in the form of lady luck and good fortune.” The symbolism in Salonika's paintings not only stands for plants and creatures, but also for animals. Those making to the canvas are parrots, hummingbird, rabbits and squirrels. Explaining the use of these animals, she says, “Parrots bring money. Hummingbird, rabbits and squirrels are considered to be lucky charm.” Her love for symbolism and learning about meaning(s) of different elements in nature led her to research on different symbols. “I learnt most of it on my own through books or by studying. I have spent 18 years reading about symbols and the last 22 years in painting,” she shares. Before finding this love, she studied management from the Cambridge University and ran her own company. She also went to the College of Art to pursue art as a summer school. However, she learnt art on her own. “I experimented with a lot with colours and materials and learnt the nuances of art by trying out different things. I worked in every medium – from watercolours, charcoal and acrylics to oil,” she says. But what remained stagnant was her fondness for nature, especially animals, plants and flowers. This, she says, was something that was part of her childhood. “I always had a garden in my house. My grandparents, both from my maternal and paternal side, were very fond of gardening. So, I have grown surrounded by plants and they have been extremely close to me. My father is an environmentalist and he started ‘Save the Tree’ organisation when I was just eight years ago. So, for me, conservation and the idea to stay close to plants has always been there,” she says. Salonika is showcasing her first solo show ‘Nature’s Mystique’ at Bikaner House, New Delhi till March 31.

The 11th edition of the festival will begin from March 25. The three-day event will see eminent personalities, such as Pankaj Tripathi, Jasbir Jassi, Rajesh Tailang, Ustad Ahmed Hussain, Madan Mohan Mishra ‘Danish’ and Dr. Uma Sharma, among others. With the idea to create awareness, help and honour artists, as well as attract youth towards Indian culture, Jashn-e-Adab Sahityotsava was started in Delhi. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebrations could not take place at a grand scale in 2021. But now, as the Delhi Government has lifted restrictions, Delhiites will experience a taste of Indian art, literature and culture. The 11th edition of Jashn-e-Adab Sahityotsava is set to take place at the India International Centre between March 25-27 from 10.30 am to 8 pm. Highlighting about the event, Ranjeet Chauhan, Founder, Jashn-e-Adab Sahityotsava, says, “It celebrates language, culture and values. It promises to provide an enriching experience and brings together presentations from Indian art, literature and culture on one platform.” This year’s edition will feature eminent personalities from theatre, music, drama, poetry, dance and cinema. There will be classical dance, ghazals, qawwalis, kavi samellans, nukkad nataks, mushairas, dramas, a tradition game of Urdu poetry like Antakshri and panel discussions on theatre and cinemas, among other things, in this year’s line-up of events. Ranjeet explains, “It will bring Hindustani art in varied languages. For instance, in Urdu, fiction writers, such as Khalid Jawed and Shahnaz Anjum will participate. In Hindi, Dr Sachidanand Joshi, Bhupinder Singh Luthra, Dr Om Nishchal, Justice Shabihul Hasnain Shastri, Ajay Chowdhury and Sameer Anjaan, among others will be there. In Punjabi, we have invited Jasbir Jassi, but people will see a different version of him which will be towards the folk art.” Since March 27 happens to be the World Theatre Day, Arvind Gaur’s theatre group will present a drama to commemorate the occasion. “I feel theatre is the only medium that connects with the audience directly and impacts them. We have also organised a panel discussion with Bollywood actors Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadha and Rajesh Tailang on the World Theatre Day. Nautanki and nukkad nataks will also take place during the three-day event,” he shares. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors will witness a few changes in the event’s format. “Only 2,000 people will be able to attend this year, unlike other editions, where 50,000 people were able to attend the festival over the course of three days. Also, we would only be hosting two sessions simultaneously instead of three to manage the crowd,” he says. The event will also see performances of Santosh Anand (poet and lyricist), Dr. Sachidanand Joshi (poet, playwright – Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts), Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Mohd. Hussain (ghazal singers) Quaiser Khalid and Kunwar Ranjeet Chauhan (Urdu poet), Shariq Kaifi and Madan Mohan Mishra ‘Danish’ (poet), Dr. Uma Sharma (Kathak dancer), Radhika Nanday (singer), Naina Soin Kapil, Meena Khan and Renu Hussain (poetess), Nirupama Kotru (cinema enthusiast and writer) and Shakeel Ahmad (ghazal singer), among others. The entry to the show is free. So what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar so that you do not miss the performance of your favourite artiste.

Actor Bhumi Pednekar was recently in Gurugram to launch the first flagship store of Boddess. The Badhai Do actor revealed that she became the face of the brand as it celebrates different aspects of beauty. There are very few actors in Bollywood who have shattered stereotypes with their on-screen roles. Actor Bhumi Pednekar is one of the few actors who have always carved a niche in this segment. But this isn’t just limited to the choice of films she does. The actor is extremely vigilant while promoting products and endorses only those brands that she resonates with. While speaking to A2zoftrends, the actor said, “The most exciting thing about being an actor is that I get to play parts that are very away from me. But the brands that I represent are the ones that I resonate with the most. I feel that’s the perfect balance that I create.” Bhumi recently became the face of a beauty brand Boddess. At the store’s launch in Gurugram, the Badhai Do revealed the secret about her association with the brand. She shared, “I am extremely honoured to collaborate with Boddess. The brand celebrates the different aspects of beauty and blends beauty with technology. It is a very empowering brand and it’s for everybody. I feel so proud that it has been started by someone who is so dear to me.” Boddess is a beauty and wellness platform that provides digital tools, augmented reality and virtual shopping. It features a nail bar for nail art and extensions, among other services, and a hair bar with a spa facility. Besides this, the store also has a dedicated area for hair wash, styling and massages.

While praising the film, the actor said, "It's important for everyone to know and remember the trauma Kashmiri Pandits went through." Actor Aamir Khan was recently in the capital as part of a promotional event for ‘RRR’. He took the opportunity to praise ‘The Kashmir Files’. He said that he is happy that the film is doing well, as it has touched the emotions of all the people who believe in humanity. “Wo ek history ka aisa hissa hai, humara dil dukta hai usme. Jo unke (Kashmiri Pandits) saath hua hai wo bahut hi dukh ki baat hai. Aur yeh ek jo film bani hai uss topic pe, yakinan har Hindustani ko dekhna chahiye aur har Hindustani ko yaad karna chahiye ki jab insan pe jab atyachaar ho toh uspar kya beet ti hai. Toh ye jo film bani hai, this has touched the emotions of all the people who believe in humanity and that’s what is wonderful. So, I will definitely watch it. I am so happy that its successful. This is the time in India which was sad, I think people should look at carefully and remember,” he added. Aamir is not the only actor to come out and praise the film. Earlier, Kangana Ranaut and Yami Gautam also urged everyone to watch The Kashmir Files and support it. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumaar and Pallavi Joshi. It shares the story on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir.

We have all heard stories of Mahavir, Ramayana and Mahabharata from our parents and grandparents but never have we seen how our ancient manuscripts and maps looked. This art show gives a glimpse of Hindu and Jain miniatures dating back to 15th century. There is a miniature work depicting a scene featuring Krishna and Balram seeking blessings from Devaki and Vasudev. Another one includes a set of three manuscripts in Devanagari from Panchatantra dating back to the 15th century done in opaque watercolours. There are also miniatures showcasing how Lord Narsimha was worshipped in the bygone eras and how Radha and Krishna relaxed in the early 19th century. Besides this, there are some works that feature maps on Jainism related to spaces, a particular region (countries and continents) and share connection with cosmos and universe. These are not a part of an artist’s collections but are dispersed pieces that got lost in time. The manuscripts, which once belonged to books or were written on separate pages, were collected and preserved by private collectors (not galleries). These works are now being showcased at an ongoing show ‘His Glory and His Monuments’ at the Lexicon Art Gallery. Describing the exhibition, Sanchita Sharma, the gallery coordinator, says, “It is an exhibition of Indian miniature paintings that depict different eras, manuscripts and maps in miniatures. It features nearly 80 miniatures, starting from the 15th century till the 20th century. The first section is of manuscripts. We also have a section on Jain miniatures and on Indian gods and goddesses, giving a glimpse of their domesticated setting." The works featured in the exhibition share the customs and norms followed by gods and goddesses several centuries ago. Since they belong to India’s historic treasures, the gallery has retained them in their original forms. Even their frames are as old as the paintings. The Hindu miniatures are made in gouache using natural substances. The writing (or lipi) featured is particularly a combination of Devanagri and Brahmi. They also depict the stories/scenes from the Hindu mythology and share the way of life as it was for Lord Rama and Krishna in Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively. Explains Sanchita, “Different artists under different kings and patronage wrote these manuscripts to allow kings to pass on their religion and patronage to the next generation. Some of these works are registered with the Government of India and they are not for sale.” The show also features a section on Jainism. From Jain Tirthankaras to the Sirohi Mandala, the show captivates and provides thoughts into the aesthetic, cosmological, and esoteric traditions of both ancient and mediaeval India. “Some of them depict a particular region (countries and continents) and the religion’s connection with cosmos and universe,” she shares. This happens to be the first show at the newly-opened gallery. But why start with a show featuring treasured pieces? “The gallery wanted to showcase the art that people have forgotten about. The conceptual art is booming right now. I feel it is important for galleries to showcase these kinds of works to remind them about Indian paintings and where we came from,” says Sanchita. ‘His Glory and His Monuments’ will be open to public till 12 April.

‘A Bird Call’ is an endeavour to give a voice to birds that are fast disappearing today. Some of the artist’s artworks showcase their beauty while others share a reminder on their fast declining population. Did you know there are 27 species of sparrows found in India and each one has different features? Have you ever seen apostlebirds and noticed their feathers? You don’t have to be a bird watcher or a wildlife photographer to notice the beauty of birds. Rupa Samaria’s exhibition ‘A Bird Call’ gives you a glimpse of the beauty of birds and shares a powerful message on their depleting population through the use of different mediums. Rupa’s association with birds is not new. It dates back to her childhood days when she climbed trees and chased birds. As she grew old, this fascination also grew. So, she left her full-time job and decided to be an artist, with an exception that she would only paint birds. Sharing how her passion to paint started, she says, “The idea to paint started eight years ago when I started working at the America Embassy School. At that time, I did a lot of projects and taught art and craft. Birds fascinated me because of their colour. I found them unique. So, I thought it would be interesting to paint them.” But unlike other artists who paint with their ideas, she studied the birds that she wanted to paint on the canvas and miniature pieces. She took help from her birding friends to understand the bodily features of different birds. “My birding friends guided and helped me while painting. I also spoke to some ornithologists who warned me that during different times of the day, different colours fall on birds. So, acing the colour won’t be easy,” she explains. Besides this, she also observed the birds on her own. “I wanted to paint peacock so I thought why not observe the colours instead of playing a fluke. I used to visit a deer’s park near my house where peacocks were regularly found. In fact, it took me two months to paint a peacock,” she says. Rupa also took images of birds from 47 birders and bird photographers and studied them. “I observed the colours of feathers and the ways in which they stood. I also observed the colours that were naturally present on their bodies. Some of bird photographers who helped me include NikhilDevasar, Sarvandeep, Raja Charles, Krishnamurti and Neol,” she says. But, despite the presence of an image, she says replicating birds in their exact colours wasn’t easy. “My friends warned me that during different time of the day, these birds look different due to the sunlight. So when I painted, I got some colour correct. However, all birds might look similar to what they are naturally,” she explains. With nearly 60 art pieces on display, the exhibition features owls, Scarlet finch, weavers, sparrows, peacocks, great hornbill, ashy prinia, apostlebird, satyr tragopan and kingfishers, to name a few. The artist is also showcasing 34 species of sparrows, some of which are rarely seen in the neighbourhood. Besides this, there are 15 species of kingfishers on display. The artist has added various mediums, such as watercolours, acrylic, charcoal and interactive art, to depict these sprightly creatures. However, she took full freedom while choosing their poses and moods. The artist says that the mediums and materials were chosen based on the concept she wanted to highlight. For instance, in the sound bird, she wanted viewers to hear the chirp of the bird. So, she added technology to the image so that people can hear the sound while looking at the picture. But since she also wanted to highlight the aftermath of the development in the cities, she did not add a distinct medium. She simply added an image of the cities in the eyes of the sparrows to send out the message of the declining population due to the building of concrete structures. Rupa made these artworks during the two years of lockdown. “We wanted to showcase these artworks in 2020 but a few days before the show, the lockdown was announced. So, I took upon myself while sitting at home and added more pictures to the showcase,” she says. The show will be open for public viewing till March 23 at the Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.

Thirteen female artists are showcasing their artworks at Gallery Art Konsult, expressing their ideas boldly on the canvas. Artist Nalini Mishra Tayabji usually expresses her emotions through figurative and contemporary art. But, in her recent artwork, the self-trained artist has cut out interesting shapes from magazines and laid them on a table to decide her final subject. She calls this a collage art, something that she always wanted to do but did could not get the chance to pursue. “I have created images organically in this piece. The idea emerged after I saw the pictures that were collected. Most of them were from a popular geographic magazine because of the quality, colour and print of the paper,” she says. Two of Nalini’s works, namely, Ganga and Ganesha, are being showcased at her first group show titled ‘The Power Within, The Power Beyond’. “For Ganga, I collected images of an emerald ring, fishes, leaves, typographical map and flowers, among other things,” she shares. In another artwork, a painting with embellishments, she took inspiration from regional art. “In this, I started with a women’s face. But then made into a bird and as I progressed, I added peacocks, owls and other elements to it,” she shares. Nalini has created these artworks for a group show that the World University of Design has organised for women artists to allow its students to participate. Explaining the idea of the show, Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, WUD, said, “The idea is to involve our students to get up, close and personal with artists so that they can learn from the professionals while still studying art. No matter what kind of artists these students become, it is essential for them to meet other artists and understand their art. I also feel that the show will bring our students at par with the professionals.” Joining Nalini are 12 other artists, namely, Arpana Caur, Dimple B Shah, Dipti Gupta, Dr. Sushma Yadav, Gayatri Apte, Kanchan Chander, Kavita Nayar, Manjari Sharma, Nupur Kundu, Rini Dhumal, Usha Garodia and Vasudha Thozhur. Some of them are mixed media artists who are showcasing pottery, paintings, sculptors, abstract pieces and print. Akanksha Wadhwani, the curator of the show, says, “There are a lot of artworks that talk about untamed thoughts and blossom of love. Then some of them are also based on the artists’ understanding and experiences. However, all the artists are exploring and expressing their ideas boldly and this is what connects them. And what connects them is their way of expression.” For instance, Dr Sushma Yadav’s work ‘Secret stories’, displays the artist’s thoughts in her own set of experiences. Akanksha explains that the artist’s work comes with a deeper meaning. “The artist has taken herself as the protagonist and shown herself wearing the role of a multitasker. She is a lover, mother, caretaker and giver. That’s how women are in real sense. That is what she has put in her works as well. It is also a depiction of the several acts a woman has to showcase in her life,” she adds. Nupur Kundu’s work also showcases her strength but it is in the form of her choice of colours. “The show includes two of my abstract works in Pasto technique. My strength comes out in the way I have applied the strokes and colour palette to these works,” she shares. Kanchan Chander has attempted to show her nostalgia with the bygone times in her artwork titled as ‘Koi lotta de mere beete hue din’. Akanksha explains her painting with two faces as a take on her life. “The happy face shows her early days of life and the darker shades (black) in the palette reveal her sadness. The artist has attempted to say that as a child, she had a carefree life but as she grew up, things have turned around. She has also shown that when she was young, she was courageous but with time, her bold, beautiful and independent life has turned around,” she adds. Coromoto Godoy Calderon, Ambassador of Venezuela, inaugurated the show. Calling it a cultural treat, she said, “I love Indian art, specially the one that women make because it is through their work, you see their power. Sometimes, just talking to them you realise that it doesn’t matter what their age or experience is, they have richness that is natural to them.” The show will be open for public between 10-15 March from 11am to 5pm at Gallery Art Konsult, New Delhi.

After successfully defeating breast cancer, Premi Mathew is spreading awareness around its early detection and works with organisations to provide free wigs to cancer patients. Pain teaches you the greatest lessons in life. Who better than Premi Mathew would know? In 2010, she developed a little lump in her breast, which was diagnosed as breast cancer. She went through chemotherapy sessions and was able to defeat cancer within six months. Though she was cancer-free, she also ended up losing her hair. This taught her an important lesson that early detection gave her a new lease of life. It also persuaded her to start ‘Protect Your Mom’ campaign to create awareness around breast cancer and its early diagnosis. “The idea to start the campaign was to spread the message that early detection of cancer can give women a new lease of life. Many women ignore their health, despite their symptoms. That’s why breast cancer impacts one in eight women,” she says. Since 2010, she has conducted several such campaigns across India. But she insists that creating awareness about this subject isn’t a cakewalk. “In India, people don’t want to talk about breast cancer because breasts are considered a taboo subject,” she says. This also impacted her to react out to several families. So, she instead involved youth to spread the awareness about the disease. “Youth are free from prejudices while talking about breast cancer. We have been doing these campaigns with young people who educate and persuade others to check for early signs of cancer in their mothers. They do it via dance, songs, kits, etc.,” she shares. Besides raising awareness, she also provides free wigs to cancer patients. She stumbled upon this idea after she visited her six-year-old nephew in the US, who was growing his hair to donate it. “In the US, it is common for people to donate their hair for cancer. I was inspired by the idea and decided to do bring this concept in India,” she asserts. In 2013, Premi formally launched ‘Hair For Hope India’ campaign that allows people to donate their hair and creates awareness about hair donation. However, the campaign didn’t pick up when it was started. “Ten years ago, it was difficult to persuade people to donate their hair as no one knew about hair donation. Among women, long hair is considered to be a sign of beauty. But now, people are open to the idea. In fact, we get people from three to seventy years of age who are willing to donate hair,” she shares. So what kind of hair can people donate? “We accept minimum 12 inches (31 cms) of hair. Hair could be gray, treated, coloured (only natural colours, not green, purple, etc.) and streaked. It is also important for donors to send only clean and dry hair. Other guidelines are given in the protectyourmom.asia . I would like to urge every child to join the campaign,” she clarifies. Initially she was also involved in making wigs on her own. But as she panned out the campaign of creating breast cancer awareness, she involved organisations who donate these wigs to chemotherapy patients. “These two organisations have a massive network. They are directly in touch with patients so it becomes easy for them to connect. Money is not involved during the entire process, from donating hair to making and sending wigs. We are an NGO who is working towards creating awareness about breast cancer, without raising any money,” she explains.

Most artists take inspiration from their surroundings but Divyaman Singh has always depicted his journey in life through art. His ongoing solo show ‘Esoteric’ is also a take on his life. We spoke to the artist to understand more about these artworks. Seldom do we come across artists who experiment with both figurative and abstract artworks in the same exhibition. Divyaman Singh has boldly nailed this while serving a slice of his life on the canvas in his ongoing solo show ‘Esoteric’. Describing his artworks, the artist says, “You are seeing a piece of me on the canvas. For these pieces, I have used my hands, as well as cloth and brush. When you see cosmos, the universe or an ocean, I can’t recall if I wanted to be there or if I was showing myself as part of that environment. I was only trying to replicate the emotions that I was experiencing while making the painting.” There are 36 abstract artworks and seven figurative artworks on preview. Divyaman has added different techniques that separate abstract pieces from figurative ones. He has added beautiful textures in the former and played with bold colours in the latter to describe life’s despair times and agony. However, instead of using earthy browns, black, grey and white, he has reflected miseries of life through vibrant tones of green, orange and red. He clarifies the decision for choosing these colours was unintentional. “I am unfamiliar with the science behind different colours and the emotions these colours reveal. I add colours basis their availability. If my colour stock gets over, I don’t hesitate to work with other colours. For example, in ‘Pilgrimage’ I only had green and black colours available with me. So, I painted with them,” he explains. Divyaman hasn’t learnt art formally. He is a self-taught artist who makes painting keeping himself as the centerpiece. His journey as an artist started at the age of six. He recalls holding a brush in his hand when most children of his age were learning to write. “To everyone’s surprise, I was the only one after my grandfather who showed interest in painting. At that time, I enjoyed drawing birds, elephants and fishes on paper and adding watercolours to them. Following my grandfather’s footsteps made him happy. It gave me a different kind of energy. I felt that I got those skills in legacy,” he shares. But despite having an exposure to art at a tender age, he never considered taking it up as a profession. It always remained as a hobby that he eventually stopped practising when he got busy with his job. However, he rediscovered his love for art after 15 years in 2015. “I was working in a transport company at that time. It was my wife’s birthday (who was then my girlfriend) but I didn’t had money to buy a gift for her. I thought of gifting her an oil painting (made by him) as it didn’t involve much money. That’s how art re-entered into my life,” he shares. The artist is also showcasing figurative artworks. Titled as ‘The Unuttered Truth’, he has painted different characters on canvas but all of them have their mouths closed. He explains, “These images show the reality in life. I have tried to show that everyone has their own problems. For instance, in ‘Endurance’, I have depicted the life of a woman labourer who has to carry the child, do work and collect bread and butter for living.” The exhibition is being showcased at The Stainless Gallery, New Delhi between 6-7 March from 11am to 7pm. All the artworks were made during the two years of the pandemic.

The matches will take place in the lawns of a hotel in Chandigarh. The organisers have set up courts inside the hotel’s premises. With an aim to take India to the world, the Basketball Federation of India and International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-backed 3X3 Pro BasketBall League is set to play its third season from March 5. Unlike other basketball tournaments, where teams lock horns in a stadium, 3X3 league is played in high-traffic areas, such as malls and private areas. However, this season is different. The organisers were compelled to change the location of the event to a hotel in Chandigarh, due to the pandemic. Clarifies Rohit Bakshi, 3BL Commissioner, “Due to the COVID-19-led restrictions, we have booked a five-star hotel in Chandigarh for this season. We have set up two courts in the hotel itself: the main one for playing and a practice court for practicing the game. We have also set up a TV room in the hotel for broadcasting the event.” As per the format, 12 men’s teams (72 players) and six women’s teams (36 players) will compete in six rounds each. The team to win the final round would be crowned as the champion. But along with this tag, 3BL would also provide every 3X3 champion team and players playing for the winning team 45000 ranking points to enable Indian 3X3 national teams to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. At present, Indian’s global ranking at FIBA team stands at 70th (men’s team) and 52nd (women’s team). By the end of this season, Rohit plans to increase their rankings to 30th and 25th, respectively. “With a year and several seasons to play before the Olympics’ qualification, India would get a direct access to Olympics if both the teams achieve the 4th position. That is what I am aiming for through 3BL,” he adds. The third season will be telecasted on Sony LIV and additional weekly special programming will be aired on Sony Six. Difference between 5X5 and 3X3