Brush with reality

Dreams have many colours and no descriptions. Likewise, artist Navpreet Kaur’s 40 vibrant-coloured abstract and figurative works bear no title. Displayed at the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi’s Open Hand Art Studios, Le Corbusier Centre, Sector 19, Chandigarh, Kaur’s exhibition, The Dreamland, brings our blurry dreams into vivid reality.

I often asked my husband how he knew which colour to use next, it felt like he was doing it without thinking twice. He would say... a particular colour automatically invited the next one. — Navpreet Kaur

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Her paintings, centred on the theme of women, delves into the complex emotions and challenges faced by women in this male-dominated world. The parrot becomes a recurring motif in her art, symbolising a yearning for love and freedom. The elements of flora and fauna reflect the vibrant life within her soul. Animals like the frog, goat and cat make their way into her drawings and paintings, each serving as a conduit for her emotions. Pointing at one of her paintings, which has the figurative image of woman and an abstract form-less frog, Navpreet says, “I do not decide what to paint. These paintings are like mere presentation of my thoughts and dreams. Frogs are mischievous creatures and you cannot predict their next move. As far as colours are concerned, I often pick a palette that inspires me. For instance, I was in Canada in the Fall, and the leaves and various hues of brown inspired me to make an art piece of it.”

Without any formal academic training, she blossomed as an artist, experimenting boldly with various mediums. Despite her growing prowess, her creations remained a personal sanctuary, unseen by the world for a long time. Apparently, Navpreet’s journey into the world of art was ignited after her marriage to Prem Singh, a distinguished figure in the art community. Nearly 45 years ago, Navpreet began channelising her latent artistic impulses, drawing inspiration from the remnants of her husband’s and son’s art supplies — papers, canvases, and colours.

Navpreet’s mastery of colour and rendering has reached a level of maturity that captivates the viewer. Her innate sense of space brings an intriguing quality to her work.

The colour palette Navpreet chooses describes her expertise in painting and yet she calls herself a mere student, who learnt from the company she was exposed to.

She recalls, “I often asked my husband how he knew which colour to use next, it felt like he was doing it without thinking twice. He would say... a particular colour automatically invited the next one. I didn’t understand it then, but now I do. Also, I pick vibrant colours for I have lived a vibrant life.” She celebrates the beauty of both nature and humanity with equal passion. Navpreet has also created pieces that reflect her social concerns and thoughts on life and death, deeply moved by the passing of artists like Manjit Bawa and MF Hussain. She even experimented in jugalbandi — a creative duet — with her four-year-old granddaughter, Ananya.

While Navpreet has explored abstraction, she has never fully abandoned the imagery of form. Recently, this figurative element has resurfaced in her intriguing new series focused on faces. “But one thing is for sure, I would never dabble with digital form of art. It’s beyond my understanding and interest. The feel of holding a brush and painting is what I hold real and dear.”

(On till September 15)