Artist Vaishali Oak’s Chromatic Musings exhibition celebrates the metamorphosis of nature

Koregaon Park-based Vida Heydari Contemporary Art Gallery (VHC) recently organised a solo exhibition titled- Chromatic Musings- by a well-known fibre artist from Pune Vaishali Oak. The series brought together a new body of fabric assemblages that explored nature-inspired forms and textures.

Elated to have received warm feedback from art connoisseurs, artist Vaishali Oak shared, “Chromatic Musings features a selection of my recent works, whereby stitching, shaping and breaking fabric assume a bigger, bolder schema.Inspired by nature’s abundance, I embark upon a journey of introspection, evolution and self-actualisation. These works act as a meditative tool, delving deeper both literally and figuratively to uncover latent designs and thoughts.”

She further added, “Each panel is filled with unbridled joy, a celebration of the metamorphosis I see in nature, and an evolution in my practice. I offer new courage in the form of bold strokes and a spirited approach to the hues that bring the works to life.”

Vaishali Oak is a fibre artist from Pune whose work draws inspiration from traditional sewing practices by exploring the relationship between fabric, nature and craft. Over the past three decades, she has developed a unique style that draws from the local quilting practice called ‘Godhadi’. These fabric assemblages evolved from early memories of sewing with the women in her family as a way of preserving and extending the life of the cloth. Her layered approach allows her to play with form and colour, rending the upper layers to reveal and texturise different surfaces. She also creates patterns that mimic the natural degradation of fabric over long use.

Oak has shown her work in exhibitions in India and abroad, most recently as part of the World Textile Art exhibition in Madrid, Spain (2019), at World Art Dubai (2019), ‘Colours of Life’ at Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai (2018), ‘Fact & Fiction’ at SW1 Art Gallery, London (2007), ‘Art India’ at the National Art Gallery, Colombo, Srilanka (2006), among others. Her works are in corporate and private collections in India and abroad.

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Established in 2020, VHC is Pune’s newest contemporary art gallery. VHC celebrates art by partnering with artists, promoting their work and connecting them to art lovers. The gallery showcases works by local and international artists and through its collateral programs aims to contribute to the cultural fabric of Pune city. VHC endeavours to create a platform to encounter and engage with relevant contemporary art practices from around the world. VHC also celebrates the art of fine cuisine with its restaurant. The experience of engaging with art is enhanced by the cuisine on offer, where the restaurant serves as a space of encounter, conversation and reflection. VHC was founded by Vida Heydari, a curator and gallerist with over 14 years of diverse experience in the global art world. She has worked with accomplished Indian, Iranian and Chinese contemporary artists and has also consulted for various private and public collections.