Mona Rai

Her looming, square works epitomize her artistic attitude. Textures fascinate Rai; dots, dashes, slashes, directional strokes and streaks create her particular style. Square canvases are seldom used in figurative or narrative art, since dramatic distortions are hard to accommodate. The same format, however, seems more feasible with regard to abstract art, where problems of proportion and perspective do not arise. Rai depends basically on square sizes in small formats, sometimes going on to large rectangular canvases. The quality of tension and striving in Mona Rai's canvasses is indeed intriguing. The constant repetition of see what first appears to be randomness unified by the demands of color, gives way to a feel of stillness, and tranquility. She has been quoted as saying: "I need to feel the experience of actually hurling paint onto the canvas. I can see my work opening itself up more and more." Her work also evokes deep meditativeness. Two metaphors associated with time and light are the two constant motifs in her works. The dualities of stillness and revolution that govern our planet find place in her work. Her work mostly relates to the cosmic mystery of open space, light and time, that is intangible and cannot be easily 'boxed or compartmentalized. During her long and distinguished career, she has had many solo and group shows. Her recent group shows include 'Paper Pulp' at Gallery Espace, New Delhi 2000; A workshop of women artists at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 2000; 'The sheen of metal', Palette Art Gallery, Delhi, 2002; Performative Textures by Apparao Galleries, Chennai at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 2003.