Sarla Chandra is one of the most exciting and intellectual artist in India today. She is not easily influenced by other styles but creates her own and has experimented with different mediums such as oil, watercolours, metal embossing, parchment, tree bark and special hand-made silver and gold foil. Her use of the gold and silver foil on canvas in particular is an unorthodox technique that recreates the aura of her ancient cultural heritage, and is very much evident in this exhibition's works.

Shailja Vohora of India with Art says about the exhibition: ' Painting for Sarla is a form of meditation and her paintings are personal expressions of her love for Indian culture and Mythology. Each of them creates a spiritual experience for the viewers, a universal understanding of the human. Her works are never static.'

This show has many monochromatic pieces which will hang beautifully next to some more vibrant works. Her paintings are spiritual but truly contemporary and as well-know art critic Keshav Malik writes in the catalogue's foreword: 'She copies imagination not surface nature. The works of so-called 'naïve' artists are closer to the inner universe than that of the pukka modernists. Imaginative precision can be found everywhere but how is so rare in our own times where attention is commonly directed onto nature rather than inward upon images of the mind.'

Shailja Vohora has chosen some exceptional paintings for this exhibition with prices ranging from £3,000 to £5,000 - reasonable prices for any contemporary art collector, but perfect for anyone hoping to start a collection. Shailja is also happy to give any new collectors helpful advice on how to start a collection of Contemporary Indian art.

As a special treat for collectors as well as art students and the general public, India with Art has organised a free talk, where Sarla Chandra will be talking about her work as well as giving a fascinating insight into contemporary Indian art in general. The talk will take place at the gallery on Wednesday, 27th September at 7pm.

ABOUT SARLA CHANDRA

Sarla Chandra Born in 1943, did her post graduation in Entomology from St. John's College, Agra. Sarla has travelled extensively to Europe, USA, Far East and the Middle East. Oriented towards philosophy, her paintings incline towards mythical subjects. Rightly hailed as 'a thinking, bold and experimental artist', she has held more than 45 solo exhibitions in India and abroad. Her group shows include Harmony Shows, 'India with Art' in London and Washington DC, and other exhibitions at the International Centre, New York, The World Bank, Washington DC, Vedic Heritage, New York, The Art Gallery, London, and Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai. Her works are also in many private art collections in India and abroad.

ABOUT THE CURATOR: SHAILJA VOHORA

Shailja Vohora runs India with Art and Interiors with Art. She has a diploma in Arts of India from the SOAS/ Sotheby's Institute and attended the Christie's Fine and Decorative Arts 1450-Present Day course. As early as 1991, she initiated a private exhibition and sale of Contemporary Indian Art in London, and assisted Christie's with their Indian-themed Sales in 1995 and 1996. She set up her company to promote Contemporary Indian artists and their work and has successfully staged exhibitions, workshops and lectures in India, USA, UK, and East Africa.

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