Artist brings alive natural mystique of mountains on canvas

Inspired by the majestic beauty of Alps and Himalayas, Mumbai-based artist Devdatta Padekar has recreated the magic of magnificent mountain ranges on canvas here.
Titled 'Symphony of Seasons', the exhibition explores different elements of nature in vibrant hues of green and yellow while capturing the serenity and ephemeral moods of the mountains.
"I have been travelling in various regions around these mountain ranges during different seasons for almost three years now. The series is about the ever changing landscapes and beautiful environment in closeness to these mystical mountain ranges.
"With this exhibition, I attempt to capture the beauty of the Alps and Himalayas which are ever changing and have something different to offer every time I go close to them," says Padekar.

The first inspiration to paint mountains came during 2007-2009, when Padekar was painting a series on ballet dancers at the Florence Dance Center in Italy.
"On clear days, the aerial view of the Alps was mesmerising. If the landscape was so beautiful from up above, I was certain it would be equally spectacular at ground level," the artist says.

He subsequently travelled to the Swiss Alps in 2013 and over the course of the next two years, Padekar painted European Alps at different times of the year.
"I painted small paintings on location and larger canvases in my studio. The paintings on the Alps series formed a part of my solo exhibition at the Florence Dance Center, Italy, in March 2016," the 38-year-old artist says.

Padekar's fascination with Himalayas led him to trek across the high ranges of the terrains to paint the impression of landscapes with his brushstrokes.
"The two mountain ranges have different flora, fauna and also diverse cultures. I trekked across the Himalaya. Such is the fascination for nature that this journey of mine is still ongoing.
"With vast areas devoid of human presence, serenity rules in both the Alps and the Himalaya. In both places, however, the impression of the landscape always seems to be fleeting," the artist says.
Padekar's paintings incorporate simplicity, subtlety and innocence, which he uses to depict a harmonious communication between man and nature.

"I observed that people who live in the mountains love their environment and live in complete harmony with nature. That is the very essence of these paintings, to admire, preserve and live in complete synergy with nature," he says.
In his paintings titled "Austrian Alps", "Autum Vineyards" and "A perfect day (St Moritz)" he encapsulates the natural mystique of flora and fauna.
The exhibition underway at Gallerie Ganesha here is set to continue till November 29.