Mala’s Rangayan blends art with memoir

An artist often sees their own work differently than the audience — more deeply, more critically and often more personally. For city-based artist Mala Chawla, however, art is more personal than critical.

Chawla, an accomplished artist with decades of experience, launched a book titled Rangayan — an art publication that features a curated selection of her acclaimed works. The book was released at the KT Kala Gallery, accompanied by a solo art exhibition showcasing her latest pieces.

The exhibition, featuring 40 of Mala’s paintings, mirrors the focus of the book: the story behind each artwork. The launch and exhibition were inaugurated by senior artist OP Sharma from Jammu, along with Rajesh Raina, Secretary of the KAUSA Trust, and former Cabinet Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla.

Originally from Amritsar, Mala Chawla is known for her contributions to the visual arts. She has showcased her work at numerous exhibitions across the city and is affiliated with the Panchrang group of artists and the KT Kala Museum in Amritsar. In addition to being a practicing artist, she is also an art educator, holding a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and History of Arts, and a BEd, which she uses in her teaching.

The release of Rangayan marked a significant milestone for her. “Often people see the artwork on display, the visual medium in front of them, but they don’t know the story or the artist’s journey behind it. The book gets this right. I wanted to tell my story through my art, why each painting I create comes from a personal space and reflects upon my own growth as an artist,” said Mala.

Her body of work spans a variety of styles, including landscapes, abstraction and symbolism. Her early works reveal a strong influence of Cubism, inspired by masters like Pablo Picasso.

OP Sharma, who has witnessed Chawla’s evolution from an art student to a seasoned and recognised artist, praised her accomplishments. “It’s commendable for an artist to transform her visual art into words and express it through verse. I congratulate her for bringing her works together in this book,” he said.

Dr Lalit Gopal Parashar, a senior artist and art critic, elaborated on the significance of Rangayan, underlining its contribution to contemporary art literature.

Brajesh Jolly, curator of the exhibition, highlighted the importance of both the publication and the parallel art exhibition in honouring a senior artist’s invaluable contributions to the art world. The exhibition will end on September 13.