Emoting with art
To walk into the studio of Rafza Nehaul is to walk into a bazaar in the bylanes of India lively, vibrant. The colours and pungent aroma of the spices can get any olfactory to break into a party on the move ... yet her works stand frozen, capturing those elements. Nehaul’s work and media, in some essence, are a confluence of the world’s largest democracy. “I was awed with India when I went there,” Nehaul, a former science, biology and mathematics teacher, said. This visit commenced a love affair with the country’s colours, people and life, and became a series of India-centric pieces the maharaja (king) in his opulence, and the ‘big fat Indian wedding’ with the brides in their glittering finery taking the centrestage. Her travels to India were, in essence, the heady mix of spices, ground on stone to release their essential oils and then mixed to tantalise the tastebuds. “There are so many colours to inspire, and the spirit of the people is awe-inspiring,” Nehaul re...