A tribute to an artist and a grandmother
How to pay tribute to someone whom you have loved from the core of your heart? For curator Chandni Gulati Aggarwal, the answer lay in putting together an exhibition called 'Live In Splendour'—it was on view at New Delhi's Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, from June 20-23—that brought together more than 25 artists and showcased their diverse artworks.
This offered her the opportunity to remember her grandmother, the late Neelam Gulati, who was an art enthusiast. In her words, 'She loved painting and drawing from a very young age, and her talent was recognised early on — she won the prestigious Shankar's International Art Competition for 11 consecutive years. That's no small feat. Art wasn't just a hobby for her; it was an instinct, a way of observing and expressing the world. Though she didn't pursue it professionally, her artistic sensibility shaped her life — and mine.' Aggarwal, hence, decided to curate an exhibition to pay tribute as well as to celebrate the creative spirit of her grandmother.
Celebration of individuality
The exhibition did not focus on any particular theme. Instead, it focussed on bringing out the best in each artist. 'The idea was to create a platform that would celebrate diversity in expression — whether it's abstract, figurative, minimal, or maximal. What tied it all together is the energy, the craftsmanship, and the honesty behind each work. It's a celebration of artistic individuality, and a reminder that art doesn't always need to fit into a box to speak volumes,' says the curator.
The artworks
As more than 25 artists showcased their creations, Aggarwal spoke about some of the artworks that impressed her. 'Nisha Verma's 'Blooming Welcome' is a vibrant, immersive celebration of nature, gesture, and emotional connection. Against a rich, leafy backdrop, the artwork blends botanical realism with symbolic serenity. It invites viewers to reflect on the power of gentle greetings, not just as social acts, but soulful offerings of peace and unity.'
She also emphasised two other artworks that also touched her heart. 'In 'The Bronx Tales,' Satvir Rana presented a heartfelt narrative that bridged memory, gratitude, and human resilience. Though visually abstract, the painting carries an emotional clarity, evoking the artist's own reflections on lived experience, familial history, and the quiet strength found in everyday survival. Kamakshi Arora's 'The Unseen Thorns' was a compelling monochromatic work that unpacks the tension between outer grace and inner struggle. Executed in charcoal and graphite, the artwork subtly exposed the emotional 'thorns' that exist beneath life's surface beauty,' she says.
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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
A tribute to an artist and a grandmother
How to pay tribute to someone whom you have loved from the core of your heart? For curator Chandni Gulati Aggarwal, the answer lay in putting together an exhibition called 'Live In Splendour'—it was on view at New Delhi's Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, from June 20-23—that brought together more than 25 artists and showcased their diverse artworks. This offered her the opportunity to remember her grandmother, the late Neelam Gulati, who was an art enthusiast. In her words, 'She loved painting and drawing from a very young age, and her talent was recognised early on — she won the prestigious Shankar's International Art Competition for 11 consecutive years. That's no small feat. Art wasn't just a hobby for her; it was an instinct, a way of observing and expressing the world. Though she didn't pursue it professionally, her artistic sensibility shaped her life — and mine.' Aggarwal, hence, decided to curate an exhibition to pay tribute as well as to celebrate the creative spirit of her grandmother. Celebration of individuality The exhibition did not focus on any particular theme. Instead, it focussed on bringing out the best in each artist. 'The idea was to create a platform that would celebrate diversity in expression — whether it's abstract, figurative, minimal, or maximal. What tied it all together is the energy, the craftsmanship, and the honesty behind each work. It's a celebration of artistic individuality, and a reminder that art doesn't always need to fit into a box to speak volumes,' says the curator. The artworks As more than 25 artists showcased their creations, Aggarwal spoke about some of the artworks that impressed her. 'Nisha Verma's 'Blooming Welcome' is a vibrant, immersive celebration of nature, gesture, and emotional connection. Against a rich, leafy backdrop, the artwork blends botanical realism with symbolic serenity. It invites viewers to reflect on the power of gentle greetings, not just as social acts, but soulful offerings of peace and unity.' She also emphasised two other artworks that also touched her heart. 'In 'The Bronx Tales,' Satvir Rana presented a heartfelt narrative that bridged memory, gratitude, and human resilience. Though visually abstract, the painting carries an emotional clarity, evoking the artist's own reflections on lived experience, familial history, and the quiet strength found in everyday survival. Kamakshi Arora's 'The Unseen Thorns' was a compelling monochromatic work that unpacks the tension between outer grace and inner struggle. Executed in charcoal and graphite, the artwork subtly exposed the emotional 'thorns' that exist beneath life's surface beauty,' she says.
Hindustan Times
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- Hindustan Times
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Time of India
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Rising matchmaking challenges prompt community to take collective action
JIND: Finding a suitable match for marriage has become a major challenge in Haryana and many other states due to skewed gender ratios, reduced role of intermediaries, nuclear family structures, and various other reasons. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To address this issue, the 'All India Aggarwal Society of Haryana' will organize a grand event in Jind on September 7 and registration for the same has been started. Hundreds of eligible young men and women will gather at this matrimonial meet, where they will have the opportunity to choose their preferred life partners. Applications have already started pouring in from various states, said Rajkumar Goyal. A meeting of the All India Aggarwal Society's Jind district unit was held in this regard, presided over by Rajkumar Goyal, the State President of the Aggarwal Society and the chief organizer of this grand program. Prominent attendees included Sawar Garg, Ramdhan Jain, Pawan Bansal, Sonu Jain, Manish Garg, Rajat Singla, Bajrang Singla, Gopal Jindal, Sushil Singla, Rajesh Goyal, Jai Bhagwan Singla, Naresh Aggarwal, and Subhash Dahoala. In the meeting, it was unanimously decided that considering the community's needs, a historic matrimonial introduction conference for eligible Aggarwal boys and girls will be held at a North India level in Jind on September 7. More than 250 registration centers to be set up across Haryana, said Goyal. Goyal stated that this will be the largest matrimonial meet ever organized. Thousands of community members are expected to attend. Dozens of national leaders from the Aggarwal community across the country will be present as chief guests. Apart from Haryana's registration centers, similar facilities will be available in neighboring states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Punjab. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The main aim of this conference is to introduce eligible individuals, strengthen the matrimonial network within the community, promote social harmony, and provide the younger generation with a strong marriage platform. Participation in the conference will be restricted to members of the Aggarwal community, he added. Just like in other communities, the Agarwal community is also beginning to face challenges in arranging marriages. Issues such as dowry and other social factors have led to significant difficulties in forming matrimonial alliances. This is precisely why this major step has been taken. During this conference, participants will have the opportunity to get to know each other, and a special booklet will be prepared featuring the profiles of all those taking part in the event. This booklet will later be distributed among the community so that individuals can connect based on their preferences and requirements. Other communities should also consider organizing such events, as they provide a valuable opportunity for individuals to interact and make the matchmaking process easier. Unlike earlier times, the era of matchmakers is no longer prevalent. Nowadays, very few intermediaries come forward to help arrange marriages, which makes such events the need of the hour, he added. Society officials Ramdhan Jain and Sawar Garg emphasized that such matrimonial conferences are the need of the hour. They not only make it easier to find a suitable match but also help combat issues like dowry. They explained that participating in these conferences eliminates many challenges such as searching for a match and conducting traditional "viewings." For those who have lost their spouse due to untimely death or divorce, this platform offers a dignified and practical solution for remarriage. Taking all such needs into consideration, the Aggarwal community has decided to organize this grand matrimonial event in Jind, they said.
