24-29.09.2022

“Colours in the Hills” by Astrid Kiehn in the Roerich Estate

The watercolors of Astrid Keen, a German artist who has lived in India for many years, captivated viewers with their variety of colors, smooth lines and airy depth of space. Her exhibition was opened in the Exhibition Hall of the International Roerich Memorial Trust from September 24 to 29 this year.

The works on display at the IRMT were mostly created in Kullu Valley, Chamba Valley and Mandi district. They convey the beauty of the nature of the Himalayas and its mood, captivate by their love for the local culture and its traditions.

“Colours in the Hills,” says the artist, “relates to monsoon skies, clouds, shades of mountains and terrain. It also refers to having taken along the colour box to hopefully being able to capture the changing colours and moods on a sheet of paper. Most of the works displayed in the exhibition have been painted directly at the location. They are executed with water colours which allow (and also force!) one to work quickly and to capture the main aspects. The act of painting on the spot becomes a merging with the environment, the motive is not only seen, but also smelt, felt, and heard. It’s a holistic affair and can have a meditative intensity.”

Astrid Kiehn (born in Hamburg, Germany) has always been interested in art, colours and painting. From early age on she participated in art courses, enrolled in painting vacations and regularly went for exhibitions. Her professional life started as a computer scientist at the Technical University of Munich interspersed by two years in England at Sussex University. At Sussex she made her first Indian contact and with that her interest in India arose. From 2002-2021 she has mainly lived in India. In 2016 she moved to Himachal Pradesh to work at IIT Mandi where during vacation time she roamed around to paint.