Rainbow raga to orchestrate sunshine

AHMEDABAD: Noted Amdavadi artist Bhanu Shah's recent exhibition at New Zealand was different from all his earlier ones. After having held more than 36 solo and group exhibitions globally, Shah decided to donate 25 paintings from his recent 'Raga' series for Child Cancer Foundation in Auckland. To felicitate and continue his cause, city's Marvel Art Gallery will house the series as a permanent exhibition from July 30.
"The seed for such philanthropic activity was sowed by Dhanvi Shah. He had previously raised funds with the help of an exhibition - which included my paintings too - for the cause of cancer patients. Since I, too, had lost my father to cancer, I decided to follow his example," says Shah, who now plans to extend his charity works in his hometown. "I have always believed that art should spread joy."
Titled 'Raga of the Rainbow', the exhibition draws parallel to the tonal similarities in music and rainbow. "Rainbow is one of the most beautiful geometric abstractions of nature," says Shah, a lover of abstract art. "Since the past three-and-a-half years I am abstracting music in my paintings. The variations of tone and movement of colour are inspired from Pt Ajay Chakraborty's music." From his palette of bright transparent hues, he creates works, which though subtle, have a visually intriguing tactile quality.
Painting is also a journey into the unknown for Shah. "Often when I begin a painting I do not know the outcome. I believe that I only hold the reigns of the colour and let them take their course, emerging from an unconscious state of my mind," says Shah, who does not use brush, rather prefers painting with his hands and cotton cloth.
The exhibition was held at Lumley Centre, Auckland, early last month and was well appreciated by critics, as well as, the media. Shah's benevolent donation of paintings valued at 1,50,000 New Zealand Dollars, approximately Rs 66 lakhs, was much applauded. "While I was in New Zealand, Dr Vipul Upadhyay helped me organize the exhibition and the charity event. I plan to spend my retirement years working for charity," says the 78-year-old artist, who is also a world-renowned kite collector.