01.12.2024
Exhibition by Aroma Gaur and Pomi Trail at the Roerich Estate, Naggar
For Aroma Gaur, this exhibition, her first one, in the place where the renowned Russian artist Nicholas Roerich lived and worked represents a significant and special milestone in her creative journey.
Aroma was born and raised in Manali (Himachal Pradesh). Her work reflects her profound respect and affinity for her homeland, her culture, and the sublime natural beauty of Himachal, which has served as a source of inspiration for numerous eminently talented individuals. For the artist, painting represents a significant aspect of her life, serving as a means of capturing the moments she values most amidst the constant flux of her ever-changing existence. Aroma commenced her artistic endeavours few years back, eschewing formal training in favour of a more intuitive approach, which has enabled her to gradually refine her abilities. She continues to work in a variety of styles.
The exhibition presents an earlier series of abstract works by the artist, including a stylised self-portrait. The artist's latest works exhibit a gradual shift towards realism, potentially influenced by the mentorship of the second artist featured in the exhibition, Pomi Trail. Nevertheless, Aroma's oeuvre is markedly distinctive and does not imitate the style of her senior colleague. She tends to favour a light colour palette, incorporating rich colours and harmonious forms. The artist's canvases depict landscapes that hold particular significance for her. One such example is the portrayal of the Hidimba temple in Manali, which features snow-capped stepped roofs and the surrounding deodars, evoking a sense of fairy-tale realism. The artist has captured the essence of a place that is particularly significant to her and her husband with great affection. Aroma utilises both acrylics on canvas and watercolours on paper as mediums for her creative expression.
The artists, whose works are readily distinguishable from one another in terms of style and character, are unified by their shared passion for art, traditional culture, and the natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh.
Pomi Trail is a native of Shimla, the principal centre of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. She is a professional artist with nearly 15 years of creative experience and has been the recipient of numerous awards in state-level competitions. The artist demonstrates a willingness to utilise a rich and profound palette in her creative output. She posits that the use of dark colours, such as the black background of several of her works on display, serves to accentuate the presence of real light. Life is not merely characterised by moments of brightness; it is also shaped by instances of sadness. These challenging periods serve to fortify our resilience, instill a deeper appreciation for the light, and cultivate gratitude for the joyous moments that punctuate our lives. Apart from that, the presence of darkness provides a sense of depth and enables a more profound perception of the images that are depicted against it. The artist's perspective on reality is shaped by a philosophical outlook. Despite the challenging circumstances she faced, the artist produced some of her most radiant works, which are also included in the exhibition. These are watercolour portraits of children, rendered in vibrant hues against a blurred backdrop. These paintings could be considered life-affirming and cheerful illustrations of children's books, despite the fact that many of them were created by the artist in a hospital setting during time when she had lost all hope. It is noteworthy that the artist is capable of producing some of her larger paintings in a relatively short period of time, with some examples completed in a single day. However, these masterpieces are not the result of a few hours of actual work, but of decades of Pomi’s self-improvement as an artist, during which she developed remarkable precision in her brushwork and clarity of vision.
On the 1st of December, an exhibition of two remarkable artists, Aroma Gaur and Pomi Trail, was inaugurated in the Exhibition Hall of the International Roerich Memorial Trust.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Russian and Indian curators of the IRMT, namely Larisa Surgina and Suresh Kumar, as well as Trust staff, family members of both artists, children and teachers of the H. Roerich Art Academy and other guests.
The families of the artists support them on their difficult creative path. Aroma Gaur's family was present at the exhibition opening as guests of honour. Pomi Trail’s husband is a support and pillar for her in many of her projects - he was also present at the exhibition as guest of honour and photographer.
The artists were delighted with the guests' responses to their paintings. According to Pomi Trail, sometimes the guests can give such insightful feedback on a subject that even the artists themselves begin to look at their work differently and have new creative ideas.
