"MYSTERIOUS MOODS OF NATURE" CULTURAL & HISTORICAL IMPACT
Anil Sharma’s “Mysterious moodsof Nature” is a visual and emotional journey through the sacred city of Varanasi. With each entry, he captures the timeless essence of Banaras, painting vivid imagery not just with his brush, but through words as well. His mastery over watercolours allows him to bring to life the spirit of the city, where every dawn seems to unfold a new narrative.
Regarded as one of the most demanding mediums, watercolour requires precision, spontaneity, and deep artistic insight. Anil Sharma has achieved remarkable finesse in this technique, which speaks volumes of his discipline and dedication. His landscapes and portraits offer unmatched emotional depth, where each brushstroke evokes memory, culture, and spirituality.
His journey began in the world of cinema posters and banners a grassroots training ground that shaped his foundational skills. He later pursued his BFA and MFA in painting from Banaras Hindu University, where he further refined his artistic voice. Today, he continues to explore both realism and abstraction with equal vigor. While landscapes and portraits remain his popular themes, abstraction, he says, is like stepping into a dream a way to move beyond form and colour, into a space of complete artistic freedom.
In conversation, Sharma often reflects on the limitations of realism. He questions whether we can ever reach the heights of depiction that artists like Rembrandt did, especially in an age dominated by photography and AI. It’s in this dilemma that he finds solace in abstraction. He says, “Realistic depiction has its limits. What lies beyond it? Abstraction opens a separate dimension where art is truly free.”
This philosophical depth is evident in works like “Mysterious Mood of Nature,” where imaginary colours fill the canvas, transporting the viewer into a surreal landscape. The use of vacant spaces, sodium lights, and dreamlike hues invites deep contemplation and wonder. In contrast, his painting “Banaras Ghats” captures the city’s cultural and architectural splendor in a realistic style. The gliding boat, the smoke rising from the ghats, and the layered skyline are rendered with unparalleled grace and precision.
Another notable piece, “Dashashwamedh Chauraha,” depicts the early morning vibrancy of pilgrims heading for Ganga Aarti. In “Nepali Temple,” the merging of sky and Ganga evokes a mystical atmosphere, creating a seamless connection between the earthly and divine.
I had the privilege of curating two of his exhibitions last year his watercolour works at Gallery RPR in Delhi and his abstract paintings at Kala Bhavan, BHU. Both showcased the breadth and brilliance of his practice, affirming his versatility and vision.
What sets Anil Sharma apart is not just his technical excellence but his ability to embody Indian traditions and spirituality in his art and life. Whether in Banaras or while living abroad in Bahrain, he has remained deeply rooted in his cultural heritage. His works serve as a bridge between the sacred and the modern, the personal and the universal.
Anil Sharma is not just an artist; he is a storyteller, a chronicler, and a seeker. Through his art, Banaras lives and breathes anew every day.
