Nature Morte is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new works by Manisha Parekh entitled, Chromatic Flight. This is Parekh’s 6th solo exhibition with Nature Morte since her debut participation at the gallery’s second exhibition at the India Habitat Center, Delhi in January 1998.

Over the past few decades, Parekh has forged a unique relationship with ink, watercolour, and charcoal with a masterful handling of the materials rendering each line, gesture and stroke exquisite and deliberate. With series such as An Embrace and Edges of Illusion, she has introduced bolder hues in her work, lending the exhibition its title. The series, Liquid Light, on the contrary, looks at the extent of charcoal’s saturation with the blackest blacks set in the glow of liquid gold paint. Moon Flower is another series painted on handmade paper.

Also on view are two sculptures by Parekh, which are being shown in Delhi for the first time. A new sculptural work, Alchemy, expands her visual language with the use of tactile materials, like copper and iron. With the touch of a hand and ticking of time, the work explores the natural qualities of the metals, inviting oxidation, rusting, bending and piercing. In this work, the textures and sheen of the metal replaces the artist’s usual investigation via paint and colour. Following you is a 12-part mild steel sculpture. As you walk past the sculpture, the steel and shadows coalesce to form infinite new two-dimensional drawings on the wall.

Manisha Parekh (b.1964, Uttarsanda. Lives and works in New Delhi) received her BA from M.S University, Baroda in 1988 and MAs from M.S University, Baroda in 1990, and Royal College of Art, London in 1993. She is a founding member of Khoj International Artists’ Association.Her works have been included in group and solo exhibitions internationally, including: Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai (2018); The Sculpture Park, Jaipur (2018); Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur (2018); RMIT Gallery, Melbourne (2015); Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi (2015); Gaungdong Museum of Art, Gaungzhou, Art Museum, Shanghai, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing (2014). Parekh’s work forms part of a number of collections, including Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum, Ahmedabad; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; Lalit Kala Akademi, Ahmedabad, and Royal College of Art, London.