sheetal gattani

2 - 21 February, 2009

Sheetal Gattani's paintings speak many languages and conjure up many emotions. Layer upon layer of colour with no discernable form lend a sense of timelessness to the works - we are immediately reminded of moss -laden and rusted surfaces that have weathered over decades of neglect and decay. Yet, these works on canvas are painstakingly executed without any conscious effort to represent anything familiar or known. What you see, however, are saturated colours and geometric grids, patterns, as a result of careful and deliberate (mis)treatment of the painted surface in order to get the desired texture and tonality. There is also a new dimensionality in some of the paintings with deliberate cuts across the surface of the canvas that are angled and embossed onto a raised portion of the stretched frame. This is her way of calling attention to the all important line and its resultant shadow play that has always been an integral part of Sheetal's visual vocabulary. To fully appreciate the method and the magic of these joyful works, spend some unrushed time with each painting - much like you would when listening to a violin concerto or a piece by Beethoven or Bach. Just as the ear has to be tuned to sound, the eye has to become familiar with swathes of colour in the absence of discernible symbols. It's almost like gazing into space - only when you allow yourself to take in the vastness, thought patterns automatically emerge and you become open to the possibilities of reaching within and experiencing life with all its richness and emotion.