Neha Das, Sep 16, 2014, DHNS

Art exhibition

My mother is the religious one and I have inherited the same traits from her. I have always been inspired by our cultural upbringing. Whether one lives in metros, villages or anywhere in the universe, one is in constant touch with God. My paintings connect us to the greatest gods of Indian culture. From roadside hawkers to offices of multinational companies, we are all connected to God, says Tina Chandroji, who is showcasing her colourful canvas in a show titled Cityscapes at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre.

Mumbai-based Chandroji believes that God is omnipresent and a part of every aspect of our lives and this is the thought behind her new artworks. Born in a Gujarati joint family of jewellers, Chandroji recalls that it was her childhood passion to be an artist that took her to JJ School of Art in 2001.

Dr Alka Pande, the curator of the show, said, In her paintings, the figures Jesus, Ram-Sita, and Buddha occupy the central space within the frame of modern day dcor. The USP of her paintings is the coming together of religion and other commercial goods on one canvas. Born in the metropolitan state of Mumbai, she has witnessed the togetherness of cultures, both urban and rural.

Chandrojis detailed works create an impact and also has a strong realistic feel to them. Her works titled Antiques, for instance, is a delight to the eye. Chandeliers and clocks, furniture and gramophone, artefacts and cabinets are so neatly arranged that every single element comes together to resemble a real shop. Or consider the work titled Vegetable Stall. Multi-coloured vegetables bunched together in artistic heaps, a transistor, photographs, hanging lamps, blue plastic bags hung on the wall - there is a photographic quality to each of her works.

As an Indian, you would have always seen shops like these, said Chandroji. These are sights that I have grown up seeing and these are present all over India. If you observe, you will see that every shop in India has a picture of God, another tradition, which is so unique to our culture, she added.

Its common knowledge that bakeries are usually run by Christians or Parsis, grocery shops by West Indians, vegetable and fruits by North Indian and perfumes by Muslims and each of these places have a special place for their Gods, said Chandroji. Other than holding art exhibitions, the artist was also the Assistant Art Director for the first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati and went on to become the Art Director for Salman Khan starrer Lucky- No Time For Love.

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Spirituality and calm dominate her canvas