From Varanasi to Venice: Artworks capture the language and play of light

Paresh Maity was seven when he realised that he wanted to capture light in his art. Now, his ongoing exhibition at Bikaner House, Luminous Terrains, is a visual diary of that lifelong pursuit – tracing how light transforms landscapes across geographies. Marking 25 years of Art Alive Gallery, the showcase is a sweeping body of the artist’s oil and acrylics on canvas, and pen-and-ink drawings.

Speaking about the evolution of the art ecosystem in Delhi, Sunaina Anand, founder and director of the gallery and curator of the exhibition, noted, “The art fraternity, the whole ecosystem, from the connoisseurs, the collectors and the enthusiasts to the people who are interested in art, has grown. People now just walk in to see the shows in the gallery, engage with art and don’t wait for occasions.”

'Have captured how light plays out differently in every region'

The evening saw the launch of a coffee table book, titled Luminous Terrains, chronicling five decades of his work. Maity said, “Light is life and life is light. Without light, life isn't possible. Just try to imagine a day without it... From the age of seven, I wanted to capture light in my art, and here I have captured how light plays out in different regions, from Varanasi to Venice. I keep going back to these places to gain a deeper understanding of nature, and capture it with colour and light, something that changes not by the hour, but every minute.”

Art meets diplomacy

Swedish Ambassador Jan Thesleff and Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener graced the evening as chief guests, adding a diplomatic sheen to the evening. Praising Paresh's work, the Swedish Ambassador said, "There are many links between art and diplomacy - one is the art of diplomacy and then is confluence of art and diplomacy. It is about art and diplomacy today. Paresh's works make the invisible, visible. With the small touches in your art works, you capture what escapes the eye of most of us."

The Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener, who has known Paresh since before her tenure in India started, added, "His nuanced handling of light, show that he does not just paint landscapes, but engages deeply with them. This exhibition traces his physical journey as an artist, but to me, it shows his internal journey of reflection and memory. In a world which feels hurried, his works suggest us to slow down and connect with nature and ourselves. This also resonates with global conversations on ecology and sustainability."

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