About the Artist
Expressive, visually and verbally articulate, bold in her experiments and having a sense of strong conviction in her own interpretations and experiences – these are just some of the attributes of Sushma Sabnis as a painter.
As a painter, Sushma Sabnis has been holding solo and group shows since 2004. A self taught artist, her love for painting has been a regular companion since her childhood. Starting with watercolour on paper during the ‘art and craft’ hours in school, she continued to paint, which has lead her through multiple experiences in self-discovery as an artist. Sushma is a trained marine biologist having spent seven years as hatchery technician and chief scientist within the seafood industry. Currently based in Mumbai, she has lived in London and travelled to various cities and cultures, which brings a global dimension to her work. The international exposure to a variety of art has instilled in her the humility to allow her to move beyond instinctive classification and become more accepting of other interpretations as an artist, broadening the horizon of the world of art.
About her Work
Sushma is happiest when she is painting. For her, it is a spiritual expectorant—something that removes mental blocks, rejuvenates thought and ideas and provides a driving force in her life. She paints with a single-minded focus where everything other than her canvas becomes peripheral and she exists for that moment. Her paintings are not so much about herself as her interaction and understanding about things around her and outside of her. She revels in the ability of finding the extraordinary from ordinary experiences. Of observing contrasts, ironies and contradictions in life’s supposedly mundane events. Of being able to extract the beauty of the moment. And this forms the strength of her visual communication as an artist. Sushma takes inspiration from everything around her—a leaf, a plate, the sound of a person typing on a keyboard, an image flashing on a mute TV. Otherwise, she is inspired by painters like V S Gaitonde, Rothko, Pollock, Matisse, Magritte and O’Keefe. Each of her paintings harbours an engaging message which lends a sense of solidity and permanence to her work.
Shows
- ADVAITA – V, ( Self Curated Group Show), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2011
- The Resolute,( Solo), Nehru Center, Mumbai, India 2011
- AHAVA , (Group show), Paintbrush and Chisel Art Gallery, Delhi, India 2011
- ADVAITA -IV, (Self Curated group show), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India,2010
- ADVAITA – III (Self Organised group show), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2009
- SMORGASBORD (Solo), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2008
- ADVAITA- II (Self Organised Group show), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2008
- ADVAITA – I (Self Organized Group Show), Nehru Centre, Mumbai, India 2007
- Knots and Crosses, Stars and Stripes, (solo), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2006
- Kaleidoscope (Solo), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2005
- Pre-historic Cave Art (Solo), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai, India 2005, 2006
- Greeting Card Project with NASEOH(Solo) 2005
- Niirjeeta, NASEOH- Multiple Disability Unit – Mural (Group), Mumbai, India 2005
- India-Builds – Habitat for Humanity- Auction of Contemporary Art (Group), Mumbai, India 2005
- The Lotus Pond Collection (Solo), Kohinoor Art Gallery, Mumbai , India. 2004
- The Lotus Pond Collection (Solo), Nehru Centre, Mumbai, India 2004
