Artist Kajal Nalwa carefully selects her topics so as to exude optimism and vitality. A preview of her solo show, Seeing Consciously, is provided here

The striking thing is the contrast. The colors, too! It takes a moment or two to soak in the splendor of the rural life shown on the paint as the capsule elevator travels through the levels of the elegantly furnished Sector 16 home to arrive at the temporary art exhibit. The space is mostly dominated by green.

The artist, Kajal Nalwa, likes to refer to her one-woman show as Seeing Consciously. We can see why she included the term “consciously.” Kajal chooses her themes carefully, focusing on nature, country life, and everyday people. Although she consciously chooses to “see” certain things, such as a rural landscape or a woman dressed brightly, the creative force that resides in her subconscious is in charge of carrying out the “seeing” process.

“I take images from the desired perspectives when I come upon a scenario that captures my interest. The creative process then begins, taking its own path on the canvas, once I have studied and juxtaposed them,” she says.

And when she describes the creation of the artwork titled Black & White Sunset, we get a peek of her artistic side. “It stuck in my memory that I was sitting on a Goa beach, watching the sunset.” I wanted the sun to be the focal point of my painting because it was so magnificent. So I used charcoal to paint the surrounding area black and white.

With just a hint of color, the specific frame radiates surrealism and promise. A couple more in this series employ a different approach from her Fields of Harmony series, which is to apply oil or acrylic harshly using a brush and palette knife to create a textured effect that fits with her themes. Now that we are aware of the conscious and subconscious inspirations behind her creations, we can wonder if a given artwork ends on a conscious or subconscious level.

“Essentially, it’s a conscious process,” the self-taught artist reveals. “I paint a scene, then give it a day to sit.” I returned to it after that. Until I’m certain there is nothing more I can add, I go through the procedure again. that the moment has come to complete the painting’s creative process,” she says.

Her brushstrokes are as honest and passionate as her words. She was raised in Sri Lanka, attended Lawrence School in Sanawar and Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai, and traveled to various locations with her Army spouse to gain experience and knowledge. Now, she is prepared to settle in Chandigarh. Her words and artwork reflect this. And what better way to celebrate her “entry” into the city and the art community than to organize a solo exhibition including her works of art? Every single one of the thirty-three!

(At House No. 215 in Sector 16A, as of right now.)