The solo exhibition ASTITVA – The Essence of Being by contemporary abstract artist Meena Yadav opened with a meaningful and graceful ceremony at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre. The evening began with the lighting of the lamp by Padmashri Vidushi Shovana Narayan and renowned author, academic, and social activist Dr. Ranjana Kumari, marking an auspicious beginning to a reflective artistic experience.
Meena says “The essence of Astitva lies in the dialogue between nature and the spaces shaped by humans — a contrast that has always shaped my artistic journey. Through my paintings, I explore how these two forces coexist, collide, and sometimes blur into one another. The works in this exhibition reflect both the harmony and the conflict in this relationship, capturing humanity’s growing disconnection from nature alongside our deep longing to return to its purity and stillness.
The series is shaped by the environments we inhabit — where elemental presence meets urban form, influencing one another and quietly defining how we experience life. These intersections remind us that even within shifting modern landscapes, our deeper sense of grounding continues to draw from what is raw and unconstructed.
Astitva invites viewers to pause and return to the essence of their own being. It opens a quiet, reflective space — one that softens the noise of modern life and brings us back to what feels real, grounding, and elemental. Through its layered abstractions, the series seeks to stir recognition rather than explanation, reminding us of a timeless connection that has always existed.”
The preview evening saw the presence of esteemed guests, artists, and patrons, including Asit Patnaik, Manoj Arora, Sheela Chamaria, Anandmoy Banerjee, Anuj Lalwani, Rochika Aggarwal, and Alka Bhustandi, among others.
