Exhibition Catalog

Artists

Aditi Ganeev Sangwan

IG: @sangwanaditiganeevEmail: aditiganeevsangwan@gmail.comAditi Ganeev Sangwan is a visual artist, educator and founder Art Studio Izza Based in Brampton GTA. Born and brought up in India she holds an Doctorate degree in Visual Art, from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India where She had also served as professor. Sangwan works involve painting, printmaking, mixed media, artists book, instillation, Cyanotype, video and poetry. She takes inspiration from surroundings and lived experience to translate in a connecting and vivid visual vocabulary.

Prayers

Cyanotype and Painting, 53" x 10"

Prayers - This work in Cyanotype constitutes blend of botanical impressions of Sacred Tulsi plant and Images of people praying and sharing the blissful state of nature. Growth and Blessings are integral part of all cultures. These rituals close to nature are reflecting on one aspect of a Hindu household.

People and Faith

Cyanotype and Painting

A accordion format photo book printed in cyanotype is a collection of photograph clicked in India during different Festival times. These images holds the close connection of idols and worshipers as makers, transformers, celebrators, blesser, bonder and followers of Hinduism enlightening the spirit of a culture.

Anamika Nambiar

Website: www.Anamikanambiar.com

IG: @anamikan

Email: Anamika.nambiar@gmail.com

Being born and raised in India, I draw my creative inspiration from the country's diverse and rich cultural heritage.As a mixed media artist, I explore the traditional forms of Indian culture, incorporating elements such as color, vibrancy, symbolism, and mythology into my work. I enjoy experimenting with various mediums, including oil, acrylic, inks, chalk pastels, and printmaking, and taking on new and complex projects that challenge me to step outside my comfort zone. Through exploring themes and color palettes that are new to me, I am constantly pushed to generate fresh and unique ideas. The unpredictable nature of the creative process is what excites me the most, as it encourages me to take risks and approach my work with a sense of freedom and curiosity. Attending art exhibits and collaborating with other artists in the community is also a significant source of inspiration.

Saraswathi Kerala Mural

Diptych - Acrylic on canvas, each 24” x 36”

This painting depicts the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and art, Saraswathi. This traditional mural art style originated in the southern state of Kerala, India, and is known for its vibrant colors, intricate designs, and unique storytelling. The Saraswathi Kerala mural is often painted on walls and ceilings of temples and other religious places, as well as in homes and other public spaces. The art form is still practiced and cherished today, as it represents the rich cultural heritage of Kerala.

Anu Kalra

Website: https://anukalra-art.com/IG: @anukalraartistEmail: kalraa@gmail.comAnu Kalra has a BFA in Graphic Design from The College of Art in Delhi, India and attended George Brown College. She worked as Graphic Designer for Discovery Magazine. Her design training comes through in her paintings inspired from Mogul, Rajput, eras. Detailed brushwork depicts attire and jewellery, the bright, bold and happy array, of jewel-like colours evoke the dazzling hues still beloved in contemporary India: Empowered by her roots, she wants to make people aware of this and relate to the same emotions as the people painted in scenes hundreds of years ago of a different cultural background. Her subjects are mainly women, portraying grace, strength, intelligence, and fearlessness with a ‘Then & Now’ Twist. She is empowered by her roots and brings this theme to her work. She has exhibited at the TOAF, Art In The Square, R H Studio Tour & GTA

Princess With A Sparkler - The sparkle within

Acrylic on canvas, 24” x 30”

This painting is influenced by the century’s old Indian Rajput school of Art. The scene plays out every Diwali in India as well as for the Indian diaspora in Canada, there is the glow of millions of sparkles lit on this auspicious day of Diwali. The bright sparkle held by the young princess juxtaposed against the dark background speaks to a celebration of a festival of good over evil. The innocent youthful face of the princess reminds me of the goodness we seek from ourselves and those around us, not only on Diwali but in our everyday lives. I used detailed brush work to depict attire and jewellery from the Rajput era. By using bright, jewel-like colours, vivid attire, bold and happy array of colours and the dazzling hues, still beloved in contemporary India, make people aware and hopefully they relate to and have much of the same emotions as the people painted in scenes hundreds of years ago.

Ashmitha Kunasingam

IG: @ashmurdaaAshmitha Kunasingam, also known as Ash is an Indo-Guyanese and Sri Lankan abstract artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Her art practice mainly consists of pencil drawing and acrylic painting. Inspired by both the abstraction style and the emotionalism art theory to produce works that ignites motion whether it's visually or emotionally. Producing gestural and psychedelic forms in order to create a dialogue between her imagination and reality. She is currently obtaining her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts for Drawing and Painting at OCAD U along with minoring in Social Sciences.

The Yoni, Coolie and Ash

Acrylic and sari on canvas, 5’ x 3’

The Yoni, Coolie and Ash, is a definitive anti-colonial and feminist piece. Challenging against the western view of sexuality and sexualization of women with the inspiration and references of my, anti-colonial, moderately untouched by the Western world, religion - Hinduism. In contrast to the western world’s concentration and recurring set-in-stone examples of the Virgin Mary, Aphrodite, etc, as the normative images of ‘divine feminine’. Adi Shakti is MY divine feminine and I’d like to say she is within every Coolie gyal as she is representative of the best qualities of women. Creation, Passion, Power.

Charmi Mehta

Website: www.charmimehtaart.com

IG: @charmimehta_art

Email: charmim32@gmail.com

I am originally from Mumbai, India and I moved to Canada in 2019 to complete my post-graduation studies from Humber College. I started my art journey to heal myself and gain positivity. My childhood involved travelling across India from mountain to mountain, through rivers and back home. I observed captured and left inspired by the history, culture, architecture, colors, patterns and everything that made me feel and awaken including but not limited to nature, meditation, spirituality etc. A feather like symbol is noticeable in my recent works and is inspired by the national bird of India peacock also represents power, divinity and strength. My works are made up of pen, watercolor/gouache, gold ink and hand embroidery. I hope anyone who comes across my work is able to inhale positivity in some way.

Energy 1 - Baul

Gouache, pen, gold ink, 5” x 7”

Baul is a traditional folk music practiced in the state of West Bengal, India. Baul dance connects love and spirituality. The word Baul means insane; this relates to madness and overwhelming love. They are generally migrant in nature; aimlessly roaming place to place along with their Ektara (One string Instrument), and they used to perform on that journey. They also possess a deep touch of mythology and spirituality in their songs. The bauls of eastern India dress colourfully in orange and red. Mehta, tried to reflect the same on her work insanity and beauty of Indian culture.

Joy of Living Series

Watercolour, pen and gold ink on paper

Joy of living’ is inspired by my recent visit to City Palace of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The palace is indeed historic and definitely couldn’t catch all the details at once! However, particularly this one spot caught my eye and heart known as ‘mor chowk’ (peacock courtyard). It consisted of 5 peacocks made up of mosaics inside decorated glass on the walls of the courtyard. Just like a peacock has all seven colours we must embrace our different moods and dance along with it to experience the joy of living!

Divya Pewekar

IG: @bluesouktoronto

Email: divya.bhandarkar@gmail.com

Divya is the founder and owner of Blue Souk. Blue Souk is a small business that started out of my passion for Indian arts and all handcrafted items. Blue Souk creates and curates traditional home decor pieces that are heavily inspired by Indian folk arts and culture.

Krishna Frame

Acrylic on wood and brass embellishments, 12” x 12”

Lord Krishna (a Hindu deity that represents love, wisdom and intellect) mural painted inside a brass embellishment/prabhavali. Prabhavali is an ornamental ring of light that surrounds an Indian God. The mural portraits Lord Krishna playing his divine flute. In the spiritual meaning, flute represents the spine. The holes on the flute represent the seven chakras and each 'swara' or note represents various roads to self realisation

Kathakali Frame

Acrylic on wood and brass embellishments, 12” x 12”

Face of a Kathakali dancer. Kathakali is a beautiful blend of Indian literature, music, acting, mime, dance and paintings. This dance style comprises nine "navarasas" that represent nine human emotions. Designs painted on the dancer's face follow a makeup code that comprises seven different colors. These seven colors represent a few mythological characters (divine characters, pure evil characters, forest dwellers/hunters, characters from higher caste but with an evil personality, female characters, animal characters etc.) portrayed by the dancer during a performance.

Gaurav Saini

IG: @gaurav.inkEmail: gauravsaini31.gs@gmail.comGaurav Saini is an Indian artist based in Brampton, Ontario who works in the current climate where many believe history has no relevance, he finds himself continually returning to those aspects that are often hidden or misrepresented in the “official” recordings for posterity. In his varied and diverse approaches to making artwork, the context of the work has an impact on the work’s relationship to the viewer. Gaurav’s work ranges from the context of the street to museums, from within to cosmos. Often focusing on the trappings of power and the rituals needed for its effect, or evoking the traditional distancing of the supplicant by those in power, giving voice to those who are often unheard, or revealing the power of language through history. The work takes on various forms intended to draw in the viewer as co-author and witness, create new and unpredictable cycles of thoughts and associations, providing an experimental chance to challenge one’s perceptions, perspectives and assumptions. Gaurav’s art style includes mandala art, stippling art, line works a lot of symbolism.

Nazarbattu

Ink and pens on illustration board, 12” x 15”

Name of this artwork is Nazarbattu as this artwork is inspired by Hindu Culture. Being a practicing Hindu all my artworks inspired my Hindu culture and mythologies. the artwork I’m submitting, Nazarbattu, explores Hindu values as Hindus offer worship to various gods and goddesses in the Hindu pantheon to ward off the effect of harmful intentions, jealousy or rivalry. For instance, the breaking of a coconut in front of Ganesha is considered enough to wash off the effects of evil eye.

Kavita Prasad

IG: @kreativelykavitaextras

Email: kavitadprasad@gmail.com

The artist is 21-year-old Kavita Deepa Prasad from Brampton, Ontario, currently enrolled in OCAD U in her 3rd year of Graphic Design. Although in Graphic Design, she is a self-taught artist and prefers painting with the medium of acrylic paint on various materials. She takes pride in painting Hindu deities with modern touches that would normally not be seen in traditional paintings/artwork. She hails from a Hindu Indo-Guyanese background and revels in the enjoyment of depicting aspects of her religion through her own eyes. She catches the eye of a concept and transfers her influence into art. Collectively she has produced more than 20 religious paintings that have been donated and gifted to members of the community.

Acclimate Your Atma

Acrylic Painting, 18" x 24"

Starting off with painting Acclimate Your Atma, I felt unsure of where Shiv Ji would be, location wise. I painted Shiv Ji first, but not the environment. I used a various size of detail brushes to make him as detailed as possible. For my base layers of colour, I utilized a large industrial paintbrush to colour block and then went in with the pallet knife. It made me question where exactly would He be? Using a pallet knife I was able to create a mountain range and trees. After some trial and error, I decided to paint Him meditating on a boulder, just big enough to fit Him, in the middle of a rushing river. Inspired by the famous mountain paintings of Bob Ross, I wanted to bring my faith and Western life together. By depicting the background being unfocused and Him being in focus, it shows that even in our busy lives we should take time to focus on ourselves and what brings us inner peace. Even when the world is rushing around us, we should take the time to harness our own power and center ourselves peacefully.

Khushi Jetley

IG: @by_kjetleyMy name is Khushi Jetley, and I am a 3rd year Integrated Media student at OCAD University. Being an Indian artist working in the West, I frequently find myself negotiating the margins and borders of the creative world. I am a member of the art world as a whole, yet am frequently positioned outside of it due to my ethnic background and the unorthodox character of my work. My artistic approach involves pushing the boundaries of identity and diaspora in my art. As a woman of colour, I seek to magnify de-colonial concepts, challenge hegemony and give voice to my heritage, which does not always fit neatly into Western art constructs. I strive to represent my identity and heritage by bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary, and changing what is deemed "mainstream" in the art world.

Sat Chit Anand

Oil Painting, 34”x34”

The Bhagavad Gita says कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||; meaning ‘You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction’. As Hindus, we are taught that establishing a sense of detachment to whatever you do in life is the way to achieving Sat Chit Anand (state of perpetual contentment, attained by reaching your higher spiritual self or becoming one with God).This painting is an interpretation of this principle and illustrates the significance of detachment when carrying out karma. Detaching oneself from the fruit of actions and diverting attention from the outcome to intention, allows us to be present in the moment, and avoid being cocooned by the snake of Maya. Detachment is a virtue that enables one to be liberated from the Kalchakra (the wheel of time) and to be more connected to the higher consciousness.

Meghal Khakhar

IG: @artbymeghal

Email: meghalkhakhar@gmail.com

Meghal Khakhar is a self-taught artist living in Mississauga. She is originally from India, a physician by training, a medtech professional by practice and an artist by choice. Meghal is passionate about Indian folk art as she is very connected to her Indian roots. Her work is inspired by Indian indigenous arts called Madhubani and Kalamkari, folk arts that originated in different parts of India. These art forms depict people, their environment, topics of interest, nature and deities or mythological characters. The Madhubani paintings are colourful and often the main subject is highlighted by a double outline. The background of the paintings is usually covered with coloured or black and white motifs. Her medium of choice is acrylic with pen.

En Root

Acrylic with pen and 23.8K gold leaf, 18” x 24”
The upside down tree of life has been described in Chapter 15 of the Bhagvad Gita. The tree of life represents the material life of this world. It is full of different beings that are shown in form of different leaves and flowers. The beings go through the cycle of life and death. Despite the differences in all the beings, they share in common their origins in the Supreme Consciousness. As we grow within the tree of life, we must remember that our distinct roots originate from the Supreme Consciousness, where they all intertwine together.A modern interpretation of this concept is that despite our differences in culture, color, personal and professional backgrounds, our common origin is humanity. Let us appreciate this common origin and stay united.

Mina Vekaria

IG: @mina.vekaria

Divine Reflections: A Triptych of Temple Treasures 1

Photography

This is a series of three photographs that capture the beauty of Swaminarayan temples in India and Kenya.The photos were taken in Swaminarayan temples (the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan).The first photo showcases the interior of the roof of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar, which tells stories about Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan and his miracles. The temple is colorful and stunning, and serves as the headquarters of the Swaminarayan sect.Although I am not a professional photographer, photography is my passion. I am interested in collaborating on modeling and other activities, so please feel free to reach out!

Divine Reflections: A Triptych of Temple Treasures 2

Photography

This is a series of three photographs that capture the beauty of Swaminarayan temples in India and Kenya.The photos were taken in Swaminarayan temples (the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan).The second photo was taken at the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Smruti Mandir in Ahmedabad, which is also known as the world peace center. The temple is a magnificent all-white and gold structure with intricate details inside and out. I happened to visit at sunset, and captured the beautiful pictures. The temple colors as it lits up at night.Although I am not a professional photographer, photography is my passion. I am interested in collaborating on modeling and other activities, so please feel free to reach out!

Divine Reflections: A Triptych of Temple Treasures 3

Photography

This is a series of three photographs that capture the beauty of Swaminarayan temples in India and Kenya.The photos were taken in Swaminarayan temples (the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan).The last photo is of me, taken during my Bharatnatyam graduation ceremony in a Swaminarayan temple in Langata, Nairobi, Kenya. The temple has stunning details inside and out, and was the perfect location to capture this special moment.Although I am not a professional photographer, photography is my passion. I am interested in collaborating on modeling and other activities, so please feel free to reach out!

Neha Kukreja

Website: www.creativemantrasbyneha.com

IG: @creativemantrasbyneha

Email: kukrejaneha@gmail.com

My name is Neha Kukreja and I'm a contemporary abstract fluid and mixed media artist from Toronto, Canada, with my roots going back to India. This site showcases my creative journey and passion through color and expression! Having grown up in India, I have always been surrounded by color. As a child, that resonated with happy & positive vibes, thoughts, and feelings. I graduated from Laurentian university, Sudbury with a Bachelor honors degree in computer science and have had the opportunity to work with some of the best brains in the IT Consulting world. I have been an IT professional for the past 17 years and worked with Deloitte, one of the top consulting firms worldwide. In today’s world, we are all dealing with our own battles and I am no exception. My go to stress buster is my passion for Color! I am so glad I found fluid acrylic pouring art a little over 3 years ago. It was my spiritual calling, that I was actively tuned into!!

Rustic Gingko Leaves

Acrylics, mica pigments, gold embellished stones, glitter fine and chunky, epoxy on canvas, 18” x 24”
Mixed Media Ginko leaves hand painted and made with chameleon pigments, outlined ingold acrylics, bordered with gold stones and sealed in glass like finish of EpoxyResin. This is a single unique original piece. Copyright in place.

Starry Night

Prashanthy Uthayakumar

Website: https://prashanthyuthayakumar.myportfolio.com/

IG: @srushti.moments

Email: prashanthykumar@hotmail.com

Prashanthy Uthayakumar is an aspiring photographer based in the GTA, specializing in documentary-style images. As she continues to explore different photo mediums, she strives to capture the wonder of people, places, and moments with her pictures.

Periya Piḷḷaiyār Kōyil

Photography
My mom and I took a trip to Sri Lanka in 2021. I hadn’t been back in 16 years, so I was excited to re-discover theplace, and this time with a camera. Each morning during our stay, we would walk around different parts of town and I'd capture moments that caught my eye. One day, we found ourselves looking up at the Periya Piḷḷaiyār Kōyil. I learned the numerous hand-sculpted statues enacted scenes from mythical tales. There are many temples all across town, each with a unique kōpuram filled with rich stories.
An Arraku set is a particular set of jewelry that is adorned by Bharathanatyam dancers when performing. Duringperformances, the jewelry blends in with the attire, enhancing the full look. I wanted to capture the essence of the set and showcase how each piece is unique, but when worn together, fits like a puzzle without over-powering one another.

Bharathanatyam Arraku Set

Photography
An Arraku set is a particular set of jewelry that is adorned by Bharathanatyam dancers when performing. Duringperformances, the jewelry blends in with the attire, enhancing the full look. I wanted to capture the essence of the set and showcase how each piece is unique, but when worn together, fits like a puzzle without over-powering one another.

Cows on the Beachside

Photography
This was also taken on our trip to Sri Lanka. During our morning walk at the beach, we found these two catching a breeze while fishermen were busy getting their morning catch.

Priyanka Singh

IG: @artmadic_bypriya

Email: priyankasingh4455@gmail.com

Originally a banker by profession, an artwear designer Priyanka is a self-taught artist from Canada. Painting has been her passion since childhood, and she has always derived creative ideas from her surroundings. An experimentalist by nature, Priyanka does not stick to any single form of art but loves to experiment and paint novel forms, techniques, and styles. Each piece that she creates, she does it with a lot of love and passion. She believes that creating art is more like a journey, a journey of love, where the artist falls in love with the creation and the entire process of creating it. She feels that a piece of art is not just an art but also an emotion, a reflection of an artist's mind and feelings.

Shiva

Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"
Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism is worshipped as the supreme God. He is one of the most complex deities of India embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. The great destroyer, the restorer, sometimes depicted as an omniscient yogi living an ascetic life on Mount Kailash, as well as a householder with wife Parvati and his two kids Ganesh and Kartikeya. Known to have untamed passions which lead to his extreme behavior, also known as Adiyogi he is regarded as patron God of yoga, meditation and arts. Hindus believe his powers of destruction and recreation are used to destroy the imperfections of the world, paving way for beneficial change.

Pushti Shah

IG: @pspaintsPushti’s pieces stem from Hinduism. They attempt to bridge a relationship between Indian culture and the Western world by creating pieces with women subjects in roles of empowerment, in contrast to how they are usually depicted in Indian art. Indian women are represented as meek, compliant and conservative, but Pushti’s work empowers the typical Indian woman. Instead, women are represented as dominant and visceral. As many Indian folktales are told in the favour of a man, Pushti’s work is to shine a light on the powerful devi that deserves just as much recognition. The main mediums she uses are acrylic, marker and collage to create images that break free from realism, but still maintain an expressive manner.

The 9 Nights

Acrylic, Pen, Collage, 30” x 60”
The 9 Nights tells the story of Navratri, one of the most popular and widely celebrated Hindu festivals in many parts of India. It shines a light on Goddess Durga in her 9 forms. Durga is a fierce form of the mother goddess in the Hindu religion. She entails destruction but also empowers creation as a formidable goddess. This piece depicts her 9 forms congregating over how they will be battling with the demon, Mahishasur, who wants to take over the world. In the story of Navratri, Mahishasur took over Earth, Heaven and Hell, and was only able to be defeated by the hands of a woman, who would be Dugra. The Holy Trinity; Lord Shiva, Bhrama and Vishnu created Durga, who encompassed these 9 avatars within her. She then fought Mahishasur, with each of her forms taking turns battling the demon before finally killing him on the 9th day.The Last Supper depicts Jesus sharing his final meal with his apostles before the crucifixion. In this painting, Durga and her 9 forms are meeting one more time before they go off to battle Mahishasur, the biggest fight between good and evil.

Shania Sukhai

Website: https://linktr.ee/sdscreates

IG: @shaniasukhai

Email: shaniasukhai@ocadu.ca

From the margins of a canvas, to the edges of screens, I try to create art that is otherworldly to transport the viewer out of the mundane. My name is Shania Sukhai, also known as SDScreates on social media, and I'm an emerging artist based in Toronto. To create this world to encapsulate the viewer, I tend to use hatching, converging lines and pops of colour that bring the viewer’s gaze into a piece. I am currently majoring in Experimental Animation with a minor in Sculpture/Installation at OCAD U. Themes I like to explore in my work are mental health/mental well being, my West Indian/Guyanese culture and upbringing and spirituality. I have had my work published in the 2019 Young Voices magazine by The Toronto Public Library and hope to have many more opportunities to showcase my work in the future.

Evil Eye

Mixed Media, 22" x 28"

This "Evil Eye" installation shows a small glimpse of what I have learned about Hinduism throughout my life, taught by my parents, relatives, and by going to Temple. The "evil eye" or "bad eye" (as we say in my West Indian culture) viewed at the left angle of the piece demonstrates the act of inner peace that the evil eye can ward off negative energy from those around you. The depiction of the snake is a symbol of how good can triumph over evil through the act of birth, death and being reborn, much like when snakes shed their skin- this depiction is derived from the snake around Lord Shiva's neck. I hope to spark thoughts, of those who view my piece, that everything is inevitably connected and that Hinduism truly has tropes that can be taken quite literally in everyday life.

Sumeet Bhullar

Email: gurdiphari@outlook.com

I am a homemaker who found her passion for painting through an inner calling. Now it's my passion and dedication that keeps me going forward in this field.

Krishna and Gopis

Acrylic sheet 39.5” x 29.5”

The painting of Lord Krishna and Gopi's depicts the spirit of divine, unconditional love. It shows an eternal love that is supreme. It is not possible to attain the supreme, the divine until one is not filled with Gopi-like love for God.

Taruna Singh

Website: https://www.tarunasinghart.com/

IG: @tarunasinghart

Email: tarunachatrik@yahoo.com

Taruna is a visual story teller of emotions. Abstract painting provides her an outlet to visually interpret what is felt - not just seen. She enjoys transforming a blank canvas into a textural emotive space utilizing acrylics, collage and unconventional materials. Inspiration is drawn from interplay between the material and the spiritual. A constant conundrum between the two influences our human condition and Taruna's work is an explorative expression of this. Taruna holds an Associates Degree in Art and Advertising Design from New York City Technical College. After working as a graphic designer for over two decades, the pandemic provided a conduit to reconnect her with fine art. Painting is Singh's daily cathartic meditation to inner peace.

Azadi

Mixed Media on canvas, 18” x 18”

My textural mixed media painting portrays the emotional story of an icon from classic Indian cinema. The painting evokes nostalgia from a different time - perhaps revealing her truth hidden behind the veils of the silver screen. Art has a voice and this Azadi series resonates with a woman's need to be heard and seen. Intuitive layers of paint, layered with collage, wooden block printing, Sanskrit scriptures, and drawings are my attempt to create art that breakthroughs the veils that silence the feminine.

Thamara Perera

Website: www.thamaraperera.com

IG: @hausofmara

Email: pererathamara97@gmail.com

Thamara Perera is a Sri Lankan Canadian illustrator, artist and designer based in Toronto, Canada. Exploring themes of human identity, duality, and transformation, her work often plays with introspective figures animating surreal landscapes. She graduated from OCAD University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Design in Illustration and was a recipient of the 401 Richmond Illustration Studio Award for the 2021-2022 year. Skilled in traditional and digital mediums, her practice focuses on hybrid and experimental approaches, fusing analogue painting and collage techniques with digital painting and manipulation. She finds inspiration for her creative practice in nature, mythology, and history.

The Temple

Mixed analog and digital media, 15” x 20”

There is a common belief throughout the Indian subcontinent that womanhood hinders the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, resulting in the misogynistic societal norm of prohibiting menstruating women from entering a house of worship because they are deemed unclean. This ideology of separating the woman from what is sacred is a relatively new one, that contradicts the essence of traditional South Asian spirituality, where female goddesses are just as powerful as their male counterparts, and temples are covered in female iconography.

Vaibhav Murnal

IG: @vaibhav_21296

Email: vaibhav21296@gmail.com

My name is Vaibhav Murnal, I am a sketch artist. I am an engineer by profession, but art has always been an important part of my life. I grew up in Vadodara which is home to many great artists. My art journey started by observing human behavior and trying to portray it on paper. I then started creating artwork based on my imagination. My artwork primarily focuses on portraits and landscapes using soft pastels as well as charcoals. My dream is to inspire people through my artwork and bring colors to their lives.

Ganga Ghat

Soft pastel, 18” x 12”

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and has a rich cultural and spiritual history that has greatly influenced the world. This painting is a reflection of the faith of devotees. Here I am trying to show the scenes of Ganga Ghat and the presence of the whole universe as Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. I have used soft pastels along with charcoals.

Vidhya Srijesh

Website: https://vidhyasrijesh.art/

IG: @vidhyasrijeshart

Email: vidhyasrijeshart@gmail.com

Vidhya is an Indian-born Canadian Artist, who is also a wife, and mother of two little prodigy artists. Her passion for art started young when she won a school competition for drawing a mother and baby elephant. As a kid, she loved to draw everything that she saw. With very limited access to art supplies, she started with pencil drawings and collages by gluing flowers, magazines, laces from old dresses, her broken accessories, and much more to create art. Drifted away for a while by the changes thrown by life, Moving to Canada has helped to rediscover the Artist in her. Her access to colors and art supplies made her feel like a kid who has access to an entire Candy shop. She started experimenting with acrylics and mixed media. She has her art exhibited in Galleries across Ontario and has been featured in several online art galleries and art communities/associations.

Adishesha

Mixed Media Acrylic, 16"x20"

As an artist who was born and raised in India, I have always been fascinated by Hindu culture and mythology. Through this art, I strive to explore the values and themes that are central to Hinduism, such as devotion, wisdom, and compassion. In my artworks, I use vibrant colors and intricate patterns to evoke a sense of the divine and to convey the beauty of our traditions. The most dominant color used in my artwork is blue inspired by Hindu gods. My goal in this exhibition is to showcase the richness and diversity of Hindu culture and to inspire others to appreciate and learn more about it. I am grateful for the chance to showcase my work and contribute to promoting Hindu culture. I am eager to share my artworks with others and to see how they inspire and evoke emotions.

Vinny Patel

IG: @thenameisvinnyVinny is a 1st generation Indian-Canadian artist based in Montreal, QC. Vinny experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating and preserving her cultural identity. Her art is a reflection of her journey as a multicultural individual and a statement of resilience, cultural pride, and the beauty of diversity. Through her art, she hopes to inspire others to embrace their own unique identities and celebrate the differences that make us all unique.

Lotus Temple

Acrylic paint, clay, mirror gems on canvas, 12” x 24”

This painting is in a form of Lippan Art( a traditional form of folk art originating from the Kutch region of Gujarat, India) made on a canvas with clay and use of acrylic paint with mirror embellishments. The artwork is a river full of lotus leading toward a Shivling Idol and a girl in a saree.

Viraj Ponkshe

Website: www.virajponkshe.com

IG: @zapinfusion

Email: virajponkshe@gmail.com

Viraj Ponkshe believes in always evolving on his creative journey - as an advertising Creative Director, an avid explorer of art forms, and as a volunteer through art for which he was honoured with Canada’s ‘Mississauga-Malton Remarkable Citizen Award 2021'. As an alumnus of Sir J.J. School of Arts in Mumbai, Viraj stretches his imagination and inspires his craft to push boundaries, earning him recognition as an 'Emerging Artist' by Saatchi Art, the world's leading online gallery. This constant evolution gave birth to his unique style of ‘ZapinFusion’, which he calls the Art of Evolution. A fusion of dynamic styles, vibrant cultures, and powerful ideas, these thought-provoking contemporary art creations explore a spectrum of concepts, uncovering startling insights on universal spirituality, diverse philosophies, mystic heritage, cultural influences, and more. These creations have been showcased at art exhibits in Paris, Switzerland, Toronto, & the USA, and are on display in private collections and on corporate walls worldwide.

Vidya Shakti Mantra

Mix Media, Acrylic, 36" x 48"

This unique 'ZapinFusion' creation symbolizes Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, with a fresh and contemporary flair. The artwork depicts Saraswati using a laptop and a variety of modern teaching resources and techniques, showcasing her evolution with the times.The background of the artwork features the four T-shaped gateways known as the cosmic doorways, or "Bhupara," through which divine energy enters the force field of the universe, or "bhugraha," metaphorically.In the center of three downward-facing triangles at the bottom of the artwork, the "Saraswati Yantra" is positioned, symbolizing her "Shakti" and blessings bestowed upon everyone.In Hinduism, knowledge and education are highly valued as they are crucial for achieving the four aims of human life: Dharma (virtue), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation).

Vishal Misra

Website: www.vishalmisra.com

IG: @misra.vishal

Email: misra.vishal@gmail.com

Vishal Misra is a Canadian artist of Indian descent. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows in Asia, Europe and Americas. His works are predominantly in bold vibrant colors. He has previously held leadership position with Mississauga Art Society as well as has worked as a Board member to the Mississauga Arts Council.

Ganesha

Mixed Media on Canvas, 36” x 36”

Ganesha is widely revered to as the ‘Remover of Obstacles’, the patron of arts and sciences and the lord of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is worshipped at the start of something new. Ganesha is also invoked as the patron of letters and learning. This series presented the contemporary representations of Ganesha. These modern interpretations present a variation of abstractions of the form. The artworks are made with organic mediums, always in the North-facing direction (as per Vaastu).“Painting Ganesha takes me back to the days in Mumbai, India. Back in the enchanted times of the festivities, the puja, the prasad offering, the chanting and dancing... connecting with the euphoric and joyous celebrations.”

Vishwa Patel

IG: @vishwafineart

Email: vpatel@ocadu.ca

Vishwa Patel is an emerging interdisciplinary artist and curator based in Toronto, Ontario. She is currently pursuing a BFA at OCAD University, majoring in Drawing & Painting and minoring in Sustainability. Most of her creative endeavours are based around oil painting, although she experiments and creates work with a variety of disciplines including embroidery, photography, woodworking, drawing, watercolour, relief-printmaking. Vishwa's current body of work and research explores and dissects her Gujarati identity, diaspora, displacement, borders, and fluid cultural identities -- specifically in relation to India. She also likes to make art about the natural world around her and investigate how the Anthropocene affects the environment. Using researched and developed methodologies, Vishwa continues to develop a distinct style which includes sharp contrasts between warm and cool hues, combination of representational and abstract, and expressive techniques. After participating in an exhibition fellowship, Vishwa has co-curated multiple exhibitions and was the lead curator on two of them.

Agni

Acrylic, sawdust, modelling paste on raw canvas, 36” x 36”

Agni is both an abstract and representational painting based on a maquette I created, which talks about my earliest collections of memories – fire. Especially with the warmness of it. In Sanskrit, Agni means fire, and is a large part of Hinduism. Growing up practicing Hindu traditions, usingfire for various rituals was involved in my life as far back as I can remember. My maquette was made to reflect my fuzzy childhood memories, where I vaguely remember memories related to holikas, diyas, and matchsticks.The background is embellished with various techniques and warm hues because Agni itself is abstract – it comes in different colours, shapes and sizes. It is unpredictable but in the context of my memories, controllable. The foreground is a colder tone and more representational. It creates a contrast between the warm and cold, but the transparencies in the foreground allows the heat to come through – sort of like how the heat of Agni has stayed with me and in my heart, throughout life.

A Night Before

Oil on canvas, 8.5” x 8.5”

Mehndi, or henna, is a skin-safe dye that is naturally obtained from the henna tree. For thousands of years, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and many African regions have used this paste as body art – mainly on the hands and arms. Mehndi specifically plays a large role in Hinduism. This painting depicts someone having mehndi applied on their hands. As someone of Indian descent and follows Hinduism, I decided to show a pattern that I have grown up seeing, in intricate designs in my culture and religion. South Asia specifically is so divided on many things, but in this painting, I wanted to highlight something that every South Asian culture uses – and to connect over our similarities rather than be divided by our differences.

Bungri

Oil on canvas, 10” x 10”

Bangles (or bungri) are one of the first things that most people think of when they think of a woman from India. It is available in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and designs. Bungris are typically worn in multiples and are associated with numerous meanings and traditions, especially in Hinduism. For most of my life, I was averse to wearing bungris because I thought it would make me appear "too Indian". Despite growing up in a South Asian-dominated neighbourhood, I often felt ashamed of not being as well integrated into Canadian culture as some of my peers.In this painting, I explore myself finally embracing this specific part of my culture in recent years — and gladly wearing bungris. Young me was mistaken. There is no single way to be a Canadian. Multiculturalism is a defining feature of this country, and even minor details like wearing bangles make me proud to be both Indian, Canadian, and Hindu.

Vismay Sanghavi

Website: vismay-sanghavi.format.comIG: @vismaysanghaviEmail: vismaysanghavi26@gmail.comVismay Sanghavi (born 2003, Mumbai, India) is a Canadian based artist, currently living, working and creating from the city of Brampton, Ontario. He currently attends the Ontario College of Art and Design University majoring in the Drawing and Painting program. Vismay's creative niche leans towards wall art and larger sized installations, having completed several commissioned murals in Brampton and Whitby, Ontario and Abbotsford, British Columbia as a freelance muralist. He has also completed commissioned canvas pieces for many clients, creating a stable client base. Vismay's more personal works conceptually lean more towards his ethnic Indian background, as he navigates his ideas through Indian; especially Gujarati and Jain culture, politics, current affairs, etc. His unique style also explores new ways of using colour and expressing landscapes from different compositional perspectives using an array of researched and developed styles.

Tandhi Aag

Oil on canvas, 48” x 48”

This surrealistic work is a depiction of the home wherein the mother of the artist, Vismay Sanghavi, grew up, but has slowly forgotten. During his recent trip to his home in India and visiting his family’s older homes, the references of the work are based on the vivid memories and stories told to the artist about his family’s humble beginnings in Mumbai, India, but set with a twist. The work shows the artist himself (the cow - all grown with a full set of horns), his mother (yellow bird - yellow portraying her presence in the setting), and his mother’s sister (blue bird - blue representing her detachment from home, having not visited India in over 20 years and still counting).“The gaps between our visits (my family) to India have become longer. The longer these gaps get, the more alien like I become in my own home. While visiting India this December, I think I counted 2 or 3 people who DIDN’T stare at me on the sidewalk or entering a shop, the rest thought I was ET. Since the last time I have visited India it's been 5 years, so I wasn’t surprised when even my own cousins, aunts and uncles could not recognize me with my beard and height. This painting brings all the smells, emotions, textures and noises of stepping into my home once again, and I hope others aliens like experience the same." - Vismay

Performers

Anahita Ponkshe

Ig: @anahita_ponkshe

Kanika Verma

Ig: @drkverma

Dr. Kanika Verma is a lecturer of Writing Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She earned her Ph.D. in Geography Education from Texas State University. Former faculty at Texas State University, Texas Christian University, and Sheridan College, Dr. Kanika Verma is an award-winning educator and research scholar. With more than 11 years of experience in education, Dr. Verma has received 13 awards and several other recognitions for her research, teaching, and service. Her research and teaching are focused on the academic learning of undergraduate students, writing, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), classroom pedagogy and active learning. She has presented her award-winning research studies at more than 40 professional conferences. She has authored five peer-reviewed journal articles, two peer-reviewed book chapters, and one peer-reviewed e-book. Dr. Verma published her first English poetry book entitled "Just a Breath Away" in May 2018. It is available on Amazon and also in the Brampton Library. She also writes poems in Hindi. More than 30 of her Hindi poems have been published in several literary magazines and newspapers. Her impetus for writing comes from her passion for life and observing, understanding, and surviving human relationships.

Mrinal Bhavsar

Ig: @prodbymrii

I am a music & multi-media producer and creative entrepreneur. Since 2018 I have been professionally pursuing DJing, music production/engineering, video/digital production & a career as an independent artist and event curator. My vision is to create a space and platform to facilitate creation with no limits. I seek to bring all artists’ ideas and creative visions into this reality.

Vishwa Shaileshkumar Dave

Ig: @i.vaidehi01

My name is vishwa ShaileshKumar Dave I am an international student studying international business administration in George brown College. I'm Bharatnatyam dancer and tutor. I do choreography for sangeet and parties.

Sruthi Panikar

Ig: @sruthi.panikar

Hi I am Sruthi Panikar currently studying at George Brown College and I am doing my BA in Behavioural Analysis. I am a professional Bharatnatyam dancer and it’s been 14 years since I am learning this art form. I am member of the International Dance council, and I have been learning Bharatnatyam under the guidance of Smt. Asha Sunil Kumar from Sanskriti academy Mumbai, India .

UofT Jhalak

Ig: @uoftjhalak

In the order of Left to Right: Amogha Sathyamurthy, Yukani Sivanesarasa, Akshayaa Prabaharan, Alankritha Donthi, Urjashi Laha

University of Toronto’s fusion dance group consisting of Indian Classical/ folk dance, Hip-Hop, Bollywood, Contemporary dance forms. We welcome all dancers and those who have an interest in dancing. As Martha Graham once said, “great dancers are great because of their passion.” We are here and ready to to fuse our passion into precision. We aspire to bring out the talent and passion towards dance hidden in the hearts of learners and performers alike and to bring dance back into society.

Team Vivartana

Ig: @raga_aadi & @namratha_sankar

Ragamalika Mohanraj is an IT Engineer by profession and a Classical dancer by passion. She commenced her journey in Bharatanatyam from the tender age of 4, Currently training with guru Shri. Shijith Nambiar and Guru Smt. Parvathy Menon. She is also learning Odissi under Smt. Barnalee Sarkar. She is also the co-founder and choreographer of Team Lasya, a renowned classical dance ensemble in India. She staged her thematic dance production called 'Mayurika-the Tales of a Mystic Bird' in Iowa, US. She has performed at various prestigious temples and shows in India and Canada. She also staged her production ‘Urdhva-Jala’ for Silambam, Houston. She had been invited to give an interview on her Dance Journey as an ‘Upcoming Artist’ on Yugam Media radio station.

Namratha is a trained Indian classical dancer. She has been learning Bharatnatyam since the age of 8. She was the lead Indian classical choreographer between 2014 to 2018 for the Ripple Effect production house, which is based in Dubai. She has performed in Dubai, India, and Italy and is looking forward to her debut performance in Canada.

Tanaits

Ig: @aitareyasethi & @tanzil_garg

Tanzil and Aitareya are first year OCAD U Students pursuing Graphic Design and have been honing their skills as dancers for many years. They have been trained extensively in a variety of dance styles, including classical, contemporary, hip hop, and modern dance.

Every show they participate in has a strong and dynamic presence of our unique styles and lively energy. Whether it’s traditional indian dance or a modern hip-hop dance, Aitareya and Tanzil always have a lasting effect on the audience.