CHAITRALI BANDEKAR
POETIC PORTRAYALS OF NATURE AND LIFE EXPERIENCES
My artworks express my continued wonderment of Nature and of our collective place in this cosmos as a human race. The enduring beauty of the textures, elements, and hues occurring in nature and its free ebb and flow not only inspire my art but also profoundly anchor and guide me in my life experiences. As a seeker on my spiritual journey, I find much solace and a meditative calmness in Nature which comes through in my art.
I love the freedom of expression that working on abstracts offer. Dabbling across genres and mediums (acrylics, inks, textures, coffee to name a few), and participating in workshops and courses from time to time, give me the opportunity to learn as well as freedom to experiment.
I rejoice in knowing that every artwork is a fresh start, and not knowing how it will look like in the end, thus enjoying the process of creation. It allows me to be present in the moment, introspect, and reach for peace within myself. I love using the inter-play of colors, light and textures in building a composition. Painting being meditative for me, I paint intuitively, yet purposefully, to convey an underlying narrative, moment, or feelings. My artworks, thus, provide the viewer with a window, to feel their own emotions, reflect on their own journey and reach for the oasis of calm within themselves.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Chaitrali is a versatile and spontaneous artist based in Singapore. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant from India and has worked in the banking and finance field for over 20 years in Singapore and India. That said, she has continued to nurture her creative side since her childhood in one way or the other. Chaitrali is a self-taught artist; and has also taken lessons in Fine Arts from established artist Shyama Nadimpalli over the past several years and continues learning through other courses and workshops till date.
Being versatile, Chaitrali enjoys working across genres- currently abstracts, semi- abstracts and portraiture. Her artworks often express her continued wonderment of Nature, the life lessons and meditative calmness she draws from Her. Given her spiritual leanings, she is also drawn to the delicacies of raw human emotions and loves to depict these in soulful, and evocative portraits.
She also continually experiments with different mediums and uses an array of everyday objects and tools to create interesting effects and textures. Her repertoire also includes mixed media artworks, and sculptures, mainly using air dry clay and wood. She has also shown her artworks in several exhibitions in Singapore starting with Nov 2022, Global Art Fair at Marina Bay Sands Expo, ION Art Gallery and more recently at India Art Festival in Mumbai, India. Her works are held in private collections in Singapore and internationally.
You can view her works on Instragram at @chaitralisfineart. If you are interested in any artworks or commission, Chaitrali can be reached at cdbandekar@yahoo.com .
BIOGRAPHY
EBB AND FLOW
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
61 CM X 76 CM
2023
Taking a leaf from the ebb and flow in nature this work represents life's ups and downs and that eventually it all settles in. It also signifies that one can truly accept oneself and face life's peculiar circumstances by fully embracing the ebb and flow of one's emotions.
THE MELTING POT 2
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS
41 CM X 51 CM
2024
In today's increasingly fast paced hustle culture, this painting evokes one to leave your cares behind, cast your fears aside. For one day after all, everything will seem to melt, merge unto one another anyway.
OASIS
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS
46 CM X 46 CM
2023
Each one of us has within ourselves an oasis of calm that we can tap into, provided we care enough to nurture it. This piece reminds one to centre themselves to reach into that space of calm even amid chaos.
RIDING THE STORM
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS
61 CM X 61 CM
2023
Riding the Storm never seems easy at first. Its daunting, scary and may even seem unending at times. The best part though, is what comes through just as one feels like giving up. What once felt like despair begins to turn into hope; Hope then turns into courage and courage to action. And that swings the tide in your favour. This is what this piece means to me. Changing the tide in one's favor by "Riding the Storm". This piece was sold in the Mumbai edition of India Art Festival, Feb 2024.
TRUST IN FLOW 2
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS
61 CM X 92 CM
2024
Feel the serenity when one with nature especially listening in on the flow of the streams in the mountains and/or waves in the ocean. This piece reminds me that one should just go with the flow, place your trust in the flow and the rest follows.
EXHIBITIONS
2024
Feb: India Art Festival 2024, Mumbai. Gnani Arts Gallery, Singapore.
2023
Dec: “Voice Of Art 2”. Group show at ION Art Gallery. BeOne Gallery, Singapore.
Oct: Annual Charity Art Group Show, Singapore. Artmsters Art Gallery.
July: FRIDAMANIA. Group Show. Gnani Arts Gallery Singapore.
Nov: Solo show at Global Art Fair, Marina Bay Sands Expo, Singapore. Gnani Arts Gallery, Singapore .
EDUCATION
Study under artist Shyama Nadimpalli
Chartered Accountant from The Institute of Chartered Accountants, India.
Master in Commerce from University of Mumbai, India.
PUBLICATIONS
Artistcloseup Contemporary Art Magazine, Issue #14
AFFILIATIONS
Mama On Palette, Singapore.
Canvas Connections, Women’s Art Collective, Singapore.