Delhi’s monuments have always captured the imagination of the creative world. From photographers to writers and painters, the city’s ancient architecture has always etched a story in every artist’s heart. Retelling the fascinating stories related to the capital’s monuments, artist Uma Lohtia recently presented her first solo exhibition, ‘The Living Legends of Delhi,’ a tribute to the city that commemorates its 100th anniversary as India’s capital this year.
“Delhi’s countless monuments have always fascinated me for their architecture and the stories behind them. All the paintings are a tribute to the city’s rich heritage,” she says.
At 77, the artist says that it is never too late to do something close to one’s heart. “During my school and college days, I wanted to go to the J.J. School of Art in Bombay but those were conservative times. After graduating from Lady Irwin College, I started painting for my family. In 1959, I got married and painting took a backseat as I got busy with home and children. After my children got married, my daughter Rati asked me to start painting again. It is the first time I have done so many paintings on one theme and my family urged me to exhibit them. As the city happens to be celebrating 100 years of Delhi this year, it seemed a right time to showcase my work to a wider audience,” she says.
She started exploring Delhi monuments early this year. “The monuments in Hauz Khas were my first paintings in the series of Delhi monuments. There were certain things which fascinated me, for instance a door in the Old Fort which is lying closed for years and the surroundings of Humayun’s Tomb,” shares Uma.
And the idea is to take us all back in time to a Delhi which was once frequented by great emperors, who for centuries added to the artistic character of the city.
“Delhi sits on the banks of the Yamuna and it grew to political, commercial and cultural prominence. With the rise of the Delhi sultanates and even after the arrival of the British, the capital was in the spotlight. Today Delhi is a modern metropolis yet, drifting through Delhi, one gets the feeling of travelling back in time. The streets are punctuated by towering monuments, imposing mosques, partly destroyed tombs, and exotic gardens — all frequented once by great emperors who hosted elaborate durbars and extended warm patronage to the arts,” she says.
She takes her influence from the countless monuments in the city. “Each crumbling brick, each sandstone wall, each lofty spire inspires me to re-create the story of its glorious past. You feel these monuments are speaking to you. There is so much art in them, just in the bricks alone. Solidity too, but a lot of art,” she says.
And if you’re an artist capturing the essence of Delhi on canvas, the Old Delhi charm is bound to captivate you. “I painted the monuments which are more easily accessible in Old Delhi like the Red Fort. All the monuments inside Purana Qila are my favourites. Mehrauli, Lodhi Garden, Qutub Minar found a special place in my paintings that are going to be on display at this exhibition,” she tells us.
The artist is well acquainted with various forms of art like batik, Ikebana, watercolours, mixed medium, “but all 30 paintings that will be showcased during this exhibition are oil on canvas,” says Uma.
The exhibition is on till December 24 at Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road