An exhibition, Rooted Reflections, by Pardeep Singh is inspired by the trees of the region

Vinya Singh

Chandigarh’s latest art exhibition, Rooted Reflections, welcomes art enthusiasts, local artists and visitors at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, bringing a lush perspective to impressionist art, transforming the exhibition hall into a vibrant homage to the region’s diverse flora. The exhibition showcases the work of Pardeep Singh, a product of the prestigious Shantiniketan in Kolkata, whose use of vibrant colour, ethereal light and strenuous brushwork captures the natural beauty of local woodlands and urban greenery on canvas.

Inspired by the trees of the region across ever-changing seasons, Singh’s works effectively documents the golden glow of amaltas trees, the soft pinks of bougainvillea and the dappled reds of gulmohar, providing an immersive experience to the visitors. The artist says, “Overall theme of the works is nature, specifically trees, with every change of season, it changes moods and patterns. It’s life evolving, a circle of life.”

Nature’s poetry in motion

The event is the first solo exhibition at the city’s upcoming art gallery, AIM, and the curators Gurpreet and Munish Jauhar, have been collecting works of local artists since the past two decades. The couple says, “Rooted Reflections is nature’s poetry in motion and with it, we also celebrate and honour the trees that have been an integral part and personality of Chandigarh, their changing shades announcing the arrival and departure of seasons, their rings and hollows nestling countless tales, their crowns touching the sky while their roots embracing the earth.”

Much of the artwork on display is inspired by Singh’s life and travels across India. He says, “I am inspired by Van Gogh, Monet, the impressionist, which I combine with modern techniques and abstractions. These landscapes are not realistic, it’s digestible abstract; I have tried to capture the essence using natural colours.”

Beyond the visual and sensory experience, Rooted Reflections also carries a deeper message about appreciating and preserving the natural world. The art documents and captures the essence of the region’s canopies across particular time and space. Alongside the exhibition, encouraging discussions about urban green spaces of Chandigarh, climate change and the role of art in environmental awareness were held. A poetry performance by Parneet Kaur, a climate poet and founder of Poetry by Planet was also a highlight.

(The exhibition is open till March 2 from 11 am to 6 pm)