Chaturth: Four Artists, Four Worlds, One Canvas of Emotions

Sometimes, art begins with emotions that cannot easily be expressed in words. A canvas becomes a space for confronting sadness, remembering experiences, celebrating cultural traditions, or questioning the relationship between humans and nature. At AIM Gallery in Chandigarh, Chaturth brings these different worlds together, offering visitors an opportunity to encounter art not merely as something to admire, but as something to feel and understand. 

Opening on November 13, the exhibition features works by Dr Pardeep Singh, Gaurvi Sharma, Bolgum Sai Aditya and Manas Bholla. Though their artistic practices differ considerably, their creations share an underlying connection: an attempt to communicate personal perspectives through visual expression. 

When emotions find a canvas 

For visual artist and educator Gaurvi Sharma, the journey towards artistic expression is closely connected with everyday experiences, emotional vulnerability and the complexities of being a woman. Her practice explores motherhood, personal struggles and the challenge of balancing creative aspirations with responsibilities. 

Working with drawing, collage, mixed media, textiles and embroidery, she transforms fragments of everyday life into visual narratives. 

Recalling a phase when she experienced depression, Gaurvi described how the emotional state became visible in her paintings through their lines, forms and compositions. Some visitors found the works depressing, but she considered their response evidence that the emotions she intended to communicate had reached them. 

The experience became particularly meaningful when people facing similar circumstances connected with her creations. For Gaurvi, this emotional exchange represents one of the most fulfilling aspects of being an artist. 

Her painting My Own Fairytale reflects a different chapter of her journey, shaped by struggles, beautiful moments and the experiences that have brought her towards contentment. It captures the feeling of arriving at a place where happiness can coexist with memories of difficult times. 

Nature, mythology and forgotten creatures 

While Gaurvi’s work explores the emotional landscape, Dr Pardeep Singh finds inspiration in the natural world. Born in Hoshiarpur and based in Mohali, he uses colour, texture and abstraction to explore trees, rivers and changing landscapes. 

Rather than reproducing nature exactly, his layered compositions capture its shifting moods, allowing familiar elements to merge with imagination and personal memory. 

Bolgum Sai Aditya brings mythology, architecture and everyday observations together through vibrant artworks. Trained in architecture and furniture design at NID Ahmedabad, the Hyderabad-based artist draws inspiration from traditional Indian crafts, toy-making and woodworking.

Speaking to The North News, Aditya explained how his Chandigarh-inspired series emerged after watching city vlogs. His paintings capture the city’s sector-based layout, roundabouts, landmarks, street shopping and distinctive cultural atmosphere, offering an artistic interpretation of everyday Chandigarh.

His mythological works include Ardhanarishvara, the combined form of Shiva and Parvati, exploring Shiva-Shakti and creation through colourful compositions. Using acrylic on canvas, Aditya adds intricate pen-and-ink details with different nibs. He said each painting generally takes two to three weeks, involving multiple colour layers followed by detailed pen work.

Manas Bholla, meanwhile, explores environmental concerns through ceramics, terracotta and fired materials. His works examine human-animal conflict, displacement, captivity and ecological resilience. 

Birds, reptiles and other creatures become visual metaphors for habitat loss and the consequences of human intervention. His interpretation of the Indus Valley civilization also draws attention to ancient settlements, patterns and relationships between humans and their surroundings. 

Four journeys, one shared space 

Together, the four artists create a dialogue between individual experiences and wider questions about society, culture and the environment. 

At Chaturth, art becomes a meeting point for emotions that may otherwise remain unspoken. It does not necessarily promise to change someone’s thinking overnight. Instead, its possibilities lie in encouraging reflection, creating empathy and allowing people to recognise themselves in another person’s expression. 

For visitors, the exhibition offers more than an encounter with paintings and sculptural forms. It opens a window into four distinct journeys, each carrying its own struggles, memories and imagination. 

Chaturth is on display at AIM Gallery, House No. 2176, Sector 21C, Chandigarh, from November 13 to 30, between 12 noon-6 pm.