Inner bliss is ‘pure Ananda’, says artist Tewari

SHIMLA: What inner bliss means to Aruna Tewari? Ask this to Shimla-based renewed artists, whose four-day solo exhibition of her painting work at India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi has proved to be a big draw.

“Bliss is, indeed, an expression of joy. It's like seeking pleasures eternally. More of a divinely feeling,” she replies standing next to one of her wonderful creations at display at Visual Arts galley of IHC.

“The birds are often worshiped as a divine messenger of God. Swan, for example, is symbolism associated with the virtues of purity, loyalty, unity and Love,” Aruna further elaborates to young visitors glancing at the painting showing Swan.

Travelling all the way from Shimla to put-up her solo show in Delhi, Aruna never imagined how her show will actually go. But, reading through the faces of more than 300 visitors, few writing wonderful words of praise in the Visitors' book, she says “I am also feeling an inner bliss, and will return with fantastic memories.”

It took more than six months to her to accomplish the task with passion to play with the colours and canvas on a well-researched theme she had chosen a year back. She had to cut down her all routines of the day to work with complete concentration.

"Shimla is an ideal place to work on serious themes, and sent a message to the world," she believes.

Venturing into the metaphysical realm through the medium of acrylic on canvas Aruna looks like having created her own exciting world of ecstasy. Through her 26 exhibits all of world class quality, she tried her hands on different texture and drops.

Transcending all barriers, she has made her work more gender neutral so that it resonates directly with the soul. “The main focus is on Chakra; how working with them, we can understand our Individual self so that we can mingle with The Universal Self (Paramatma),” she told Millennium Post on Sunday.

She says, “Happiness isn't something to be gained or achieved; it is the very nature of The Self. We are the SatChit-ananda (Existence-consciousness's-bliss). And it is this Ananda, Pure Bliss, which is the focal point of my latest work.”

Aruna also has her own interpretation of bliss. "It's not something to be gained or acquired. It is the inherent. We just need to sense it,” she adds.