The award-winning Indian-American artist Bhanu Palam will exhibit a dedicated collection of works, entitled Sentiments, at the international art fair Art Bahrain Beyond Borders, which will be held at the International Exhibition and Convention Center in Bahrain from 22-26 March 2017.
This is the first time that these works will ever have been exhibited outside of India.
The artist is very much influenced by Astronomy and Cosmology, and this central theme forms the basis of much of her work.
One can see the astrological wheel of the zodiac and the vastness of the universe reflected in the delicate swirls of her paintbrush. With colour, she injects emotion and personality, revealing the deep connection between the universe and human nature that has existed for millennia.
It is widely recognised that Ancient Mesopotamia, in modern day Iraq, was one of the three key regions that led the way in the development of astronomy.
“The Middle East was the birthplace of astronomy,” – says the artist – “and so I felt an instant kinship with the area and decided that it was the ideal place to launch my new collection.”
Bhanu’s technical capabilities have all been self-taught. Through her creative perseverance she has gone on to win a number of awards.
She was shortlisted for the International Emerging Artist Award in Dubai, was a finalist for the American Juried Salon, and given a Special Recognition Award from the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, amongst others.
Bhanu Palam’s influence, inspiration and passion for art is fantastically unorthodox. A natural and never-ending need for Bhanu to simply ‘create’ is evident in the sheer volume of work she produces – creating almost a piece every day.
Born in Gudiyatham, India, Bhanu has the heritage of India ingrained in her. She is greatly influenced by the Indian textile and henna tradition in her works and uses industrial paint to create texture-indulgent creations, taking inspiration from the delicate swirls of henna to dynamically transform her canvas into an intergalactic microcosm.
Bhanu relocated to New York at a young age, and recieved a Certificate in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in 2012.
Bhanu’s paintings are shaped by her interest in the cosmos, astrophotography and spirituality. The alignments of nebulas coupled with the splashes of mysterious colours that exist in galaxies are transferred to her canvases. Often, she describes how she uses her paintings as a mantra for meditation, entering a trance-like state of deep concentration and using them as a tool towards attaining inner peace.
Her usual medium is oil on canvas, and her technical capabilities have all been self-taught. Through her creative perseverance she has gone on to win a number of awards, she was shortlisted for the International Emerging Artist Award in Dubai, was a finalist for the American Juried Salon, and given a Special Recognition Award from the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, amongst others.
Bhanu has exhibited her works internationally, from Art & Soul Gallery in Chennai, India to Thomas Erben Gallery in New York, and the Taubman Museum in Roanoke, Virginia.
