“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” ~ Robert Lynd

Aves Otium by Nandini Bajekal, oil on canvas, 2014

This insightful statement by Irish writer Robert Lynd aptly characterises Singapore-based artist Nandini Bajekal’s exceptional devotion and endearment towards the winged and feathered creation of God – the bird.

The soft-spoken artist, with her pair of tilted smiling lips, shares: “Painting for me is a spiritual experience. The beauty and grandeur of nature is a great source of inspiration. In the glory of nature, I find a deep sense of peace and happiness. My paintings explore the spectacular stories that the natural world reveals to us, stimulating us to love, nurture and protect nature.”

Nandini’s verbal revelation is substantiated by the fact that she is indeed a staunch bird-watcher, who relishes every living moment of the birds that she observes and studies with such great zeal and zest. Apparently and metaphorically, the ‘spectacular stories’ that the birds offer her, are re-contextualised into static but enticing visual manifestations within the frame of her canvas.

Nandini Bajekal

Nandini is armed with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Arts from Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai (India), and a Diploma in Cinema from Xaviers Institute of Communications in Mumbai. Having had lived in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa for more than twenty years, Nandini has had her fair share of corporate practice as she has worked in the creative department of a major international advertising agency and as a dedicated freelance designer. Over the past twenty-five years, Nandini has travelled to several natural landscapes in India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. During such expeditions, Nandini mentions, “I sketch, paint and soak-in the sights and sounds of the natural world”. At this juncture, what is significant is Nandini’s determined pursuit in projecting her perceptions of the natural world via the creative mode of stylisation, and that too, with the tactful inclusion of geometry.

Triangle. This amazing shape defines the very basis of geometry. And geometry, defines the very essence of the formal rendition of cubism in art. Staying loyal to her beloved vertebrate-metaphor, Nandini has created an impressive work of art; an oil-on-canvas entitled Aves Otium (meaning ‘Bird Contemplating’ in Latin) which reverberates the vivacity of a grand three-angled perspective; in an undisputedly cubist manner. Red is matched with green, with due respect to their perpetual status as complimentary hues in basic colour theory. The bird – the hero of the painting, is able to maintain and exude an ethereal presence; a stance of understated grace amidst the expected rigidity of the interplay of geometry. Even the pupil of its eye accommodates a triangle; insinuating an alluring twinkle.

The notion of nature is as subjective as anything and everything that life can offer. An attempt to convincingly define nature is as ambitious as attempting to arrive at a supremely irrefutable explanation on what art is. It is indeed fascinating that the all-encompassing natural world comes quite naturally to Nandini.

To view Nandini Bajekal’s paintings, email to gnani_arts@yahoo.com.sg