In the bustling streets of Delhi, amidst the chaotic blend of colors and sounds, there exists a serene oasis of artistry in the form of Anupriya Roy’s Korean ink paintings. Roy’s recent solo exhibition, titled ‘Yeobseo: Postcards from Delhi’, offers a tranquil escape into the world of Korean artistic tradition, a realm where familiarity meets foreignness in a delicate dance of ink and brush.
The exhibition space, adorned with roughly 30 artworks, transports visitors to a realm where prosaic titles like “DDA Colony View 1”, “Deli Café”, and “Bamboo” belie the profound poetry woven into each piece. Through her brushstrokes, Roy captures the essence of Delhi’s residential neighborhoods, imbuing every building, landscape, and streetscape with a quiet elegance that is both familiar and strangely foreign.
At the heart of Roy’s artistic journey lies a deep appreciation for Korean ink painting, a tradition steeped in history and rich symbolism. Drawing inspiration from the resilience of bamboo, the gushing force of a stream, and the delicateness of an orchid, Roy’s artworks serve as windows into the soul of this ancient art form. As she delicately applies ink to paper, she invites viewers to embark on a journey of discovery, where each stroke tells a story of beauty, resilience, and interconnectedness.
Roy’s passion for Korean ink painting extends beyond the canvas, as she also shares her knowledge and expertise as a teacher at Jamia Millia Islamia University. Through her courses, she seeks to instill in her students a deep appreciation for the artistry and philosophy behind this unique style of painting. For Roy, Korean ink painting is not merely a technique to be mastered, but a way of seeing and experiencing the world in all its complexity and beauty.
During her exhibition, Roy offers visitors a comparative analysis of Western and Eastern art, highlighting the contrasting principles and philosophies that underpin each tradition. While Western art often prioritizes perspective and realism, Eastern art, as exemplified by Korean ink painting, celebrates the harmony between humanity and nature. Through her insightful commentary, Roy invites viewers to contemplate the deeper meanings embedded within each brushstroke, encouraging them to see the world through a different lens.
Central to Korean ink painting are the “four gentlemen” – cherry blossom, chrysanthemum, orchid, and bamboo – each symbolizing a season and embodying specific virtues. Through these symbols, artists convey lessons about honesty, innocence, resilience, and perseverance, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and the world around them.
Despite the challenges of establishing Korean ink painting within the Indian art scene, Roy remains undeterred in her mission to share this art form with a wider audience. Her exhibition serves as a bridge between cultures, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty and depth of Korean artistic traditions while fostering greater cultural exchange and understanding.
As Roy continues to share her passion for Korean ink painting, she emphasizes an approach rooted in emotion and connection rather than rigid conventions. For her, learning Korean painting is less about adhering to strict rules and techniques and more about cultivating a deep sense of appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
In a world where boundaries are increasingly blurred, Roy’s Korean ink paintings serve as a reminder of the power of art to transcend language, culture, and geography. Through her brushstrokes, she invites us to explore new horizons, to see the world with fresh eyes, and to embrace the beauty that lies in the spaces between familiarity and foreignness. In doing so, she reminds us that art has the power to unite us all in a shared appreciation for the wonders of the human experience.
