The Mind Creative SEPTEMBER 2014 | Page 54

The Mind Creative FEB 2014 Panchali Sheth, in her own words, is a “Contemporary Abstract Expressionist artist, who loves her colours to explode on the surface of the canvas like spontaneous manifestations of energy in a parallel universe”. She also says that “her work epitomizes Indian philosophy and attempts to describe the microcosmic and macrocosmic streams Panchali completed her Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Mumbai University and since then has completed numerous courses including Master OF Art from College of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts Research from the University of NSW. And here’s Panchali’s avowal about herself and her work: “I have come from a predominantly Indian background and left my cultural heritage behind as I started life as a teenage bride in a new country. I am only now starting to rediscover my roots. When I migrated to Australia 31 plus years ago, I left my family and friends behind, (almost like a refugee). I experienced mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. I was not aware of the confrontation. Two worlds - two choices. In my work I want to combine these aspects. I want to create harmony between the above alternatives. As I row older, my ties to my culture seem to strengthen. I want to create a rhythm between my abstraction of landscape and Indian Landscape. I have travelled extensively and I was amazed at the visual experiences and inspiration surrounding me. In my paintings I want to combine the Indian forms, the vibrant hues and Indian imagery with western composition. I do not want to restrict my paintings to a specific frame. I am eager to experiment and discover the processes to establish the meeting point where the values I grew up with form a symbiotic relationship with my current western influences. I want to be able to recall the past 32 years in Australia, what I call“My Recent Journey.” 54