Artist marries loss, love and light on canvas

Lost and Found is Upasana’s first solo exhibition. Over the years, the artist who started painting at the age of 8, has been commissioned by interior designers for various projects like hotels, corporate offices etc, in the city. However, this time around, her work is rather personal. “The incident that inspired me was a conversation with my dad, who mentioned that before I could read and write, I could paint and draw. He inspired me to have the show. Hence, it’s is a tribute to my father, who I lost recently. The sense of loss shook the very core of my being, only to reveal our connection can never be severed. In a very real sense, I found what I believed I had lost,” says Upasana.

The series of paintings which will be showcased at Amethyst on January 7 and 8, has pictorial narratives powerful in their abstract voice. While one of the works, Bliss, has warm vermilion tones and a fiery aura, brings a smile on one’s face, the other, Surrender, marries dark tones and glimpses of light. Signs, on the other hand, is a painting of hope, as the gold on the canvas quells the darkness. Speaking about how she’s depicted this transition in the series, she says, “While painting, I realised that each of the pieces has dark undertones which really showcase that depth of pain and eventually bright happy hues of reds and oranges and blues that appear on the surface which are testimony to having moved beyond pain and sadness to a better place. Actually, it was the process of painting that healed me. It was quite therapeutic.”

Upasana, who is the co-founder of Studio Saks, a popular boutique in the city, is also an ardent traveller. “I take off every couple of months and travel to new places. It is very liberating. You discover something about yourself every time. I’m also in the process of making a documentary on travel, food and fashion. That’s one of my big projects this year,” she finishes.