Exploring the Spiritual Rhythm in colour, Form, and Texture

I am not just a painter—I am a seeker. My journey through art has never been confined to form or medium; it has always been a deeper exploration of the self, a movement inward. With every canvas, I search for that silent space where thought dissolves and only pure presence remains. My works are not intended to be just visual experiences—they are spiritual portals, born out of meditation, solitude, and a deep longing to understand: “Who am I?”

Rooted in Silence, Guided by the Himalayas

I was born in 1966 in Ranchi, and the early years spent amidst the serene landscapes of Eastern India shaped my perception of nature, space, and silence. After completing my BFA at B.K. College of Art and Craft (Utkal University, Odisha) and my MFA from IKSVV, Khairagarh, I began forging a path that blends traditional technique with spiritual inquiry.

Over the past three decades in Delhi, I have continued working as a freelance artist, while I am a hard-core trekker and regularly visit to the Himalayas. Those mountains are not just destinations for me—they are sacred spaces that help me recharge and listen inwardly. They constantly remind me that the visible world is only a veil over something much more vast and eternal.

The “Third Eye View”

Central to my creative process is what I call the Third Eye View. It’s not a metaphor, but a way of seeing—beyond appearances, beyond dualities. When I close my eyes, I experience visions where form dissolves into vibration. That is what I try to capture: the silent music of the soul.

In series like “Dimension Beyond” , “Eternal Journey”, and “Mist of the enchanted grounds coming out enlightened “. I have tried to paint not the world outside, but the world within—flowing rivers, cosmic doors, ascending forms, triangles, circles, lotuses—symbols of evolution, liberation, and oneness. My aim is not to tell stories, but to evoke a feeling, a quiet rhythm that resonates with the viewer’s own journey.

Material as Mantra

I am deeply connected to my materials. Beyond acrylic and watercolor on Nepali rice paper, Charcoal drawings Collage with metal. I’ve developed a unique process using jute cloth, rice husk, glue, chalk powder, oxide color, and kajal. Sometimes I incorporate resin to enhance luminosity and surface depth. Each texture, each burn mark, each layer has meaning—it reflects the inner terrain I traverse as I paint.

These surfaces are not just aesthetic—they are scars, energies, and echoes of my own spiritual practice. They are the terrain of my sadhana.

Motifs with Meaning

In my works, certain forms recur again and again—not for decorative purposes, but because they hold symbolic and spiritual weight for me:

• Meditating or dancing figures—neither male nor female—symbolizing the transcendence of ego
• Musical instruments—especially the flute and drum—suggesting the Anhad Naad, the eternal inner sound
• Ladders, rotating doors, triangles, and cosmic circles—symbols of transition, elevation, and divine geometry
• Forests, rivers, and Himalayan landscapes—stylized expressions of the inner world’s rhythm

Each of these is a marker of my spiritual path, not merely an element of design.

Exhibitions, Collections, and Recognition

Over the years, my journey has brought me to many spaces, where I’ve had the honour to exhibit and connect with audiences:

Solo Exhibitions

• Dimension Beyond – Triveni Art Gallery, New Delhi (2022)
• Rhythm of Infinity – Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (2023)
• Mist of the Enchanted Grounds – Bikaner House, New Delhi (2024)
• Early watercolor shows – Bhubaneswar (1989, 1990)

Group Shows and Participations

• National & State Lalit Kala Akademi Exhibitions
• Bikaner House, New Delhi
• Guwahati International Art Festival
• Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bengaluru
• Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi (Independence Day Exhibition, 2006)

Collections

My works are part of several private and institutional collections, including:

• National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
• Rashtrapati Bhavan
• National Lalit Kala Akademi
• Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi
• Numerous personal collections in India and abroad

Awards & Recognition

• Youth Art Award, Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi (1987)
• Research Grant, Lalit Kala Akademi (1990–91)
• Utkal Shree Award, Bhubaneswar (2021)
• Bhubaneswar Kala Samman, International Dhauli Art Fest (2022)

Art as Sadhana

For me, painting is not a profession—it is my spiritual path. I don’t follow trends. I follow the silence. I don’t paint for the marketplace. I paint for those moments when I am most empty, most still. That’s when something beyond me flows through.

“I don’t paint what I see. I paint what I feel when I close my eyes. My truth is rhythm, vibration, and silence.”

Looking Ahead

Even after decades of painting, I feel I am still learning. I continue to travel, teach, experiment, and evolve, and I remain committed to mentoring young artists and engaging in art that awakens. Upcoming exhibitions, workshops, and publications are part of my way forward—but the real journey remains inward.

Final Words

In a world of noise and distraction, I hope my work can offer a moment of pause—a space where one can listen within. If you look closely, you may not just see my work—you may begin to see yourself.

 Sajal Patra