In June 2015 I had my 60th birthday and as a special present my partner, Amanda, bought be a painting trip to India. So exciting, one of those places on my bucket list. I travelled with 8 other "ladies of a certain age" and we had a fantastic time. The tuk-tuks made us scream, the wildlife in our bathrooms made us scream, the colours made us gasp and the people made us welcome. We stayed in a retreat space called Basunti, in the foothills of the Himalayas, we had wonderful hosts, food and a fabulous swimming pool.
We spent out days painting, drawing or wandering around the nearby countryside. It was unreal in many ways and not a reflection of the real India. But that was only the painting space, at the start and end of the trip we spent two days in Amritsar. What a contrast! Noise, bustle, all classes of people and types of accommodation/shelter. This was the India I craved and enjoyed. I will be back to sample the full India experience.
This exhibition at THE BHAVAN CENTRE, WEST KENSINGTON is by four of us ladies, Lucy, Jan, Dorothy and myself. We humbly present our views of India. The opening is on 14th May 5-7pm and the show runs from 14-20th May. Pop in if you have a chance.
For me “Visiting India was a sensual feast. I fell completely under the spell of the vibrancy of the people and countryside. The purity of light gave colours a brilliance I had not seen elsewhere on my travels. The mixture of colour, noise, aromas and life overwhelmed my senses. I spent my retreat time basking in this new experience and gathering observations to inform my work. Here I present my homage to that short experience, a glimpse of my memories.”