Roses are not always red for painter Mrinalini Singh

Roses are not always red for painter Mrinalini Singh

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Constant moving and exposure to a variety of cultures have
enabled her to absorb universal values.

But Mrinalini Singh, an army brat and diplomat's wife, still
seeks more to nurture her spirit.

Through her paintings and sculptures, Mrinalini explores the
beauty of flowers and brings out the meaning of visual beauty.

In her latest exhibition, titled Roses -- From Me To You, the
third of its kind here, Mrinalini showcases her work on roses,
already a legend in its own. Her roses come in lavish and gentle
colors of blue, red, lavender, orange, yellow and even black.

"I have been painting flowers, not only roses, for the past 10
to 15 years. I have drawn them in a natural style. Flowers evoke
my curiosity and creativity. Usually, I'll take a flower and see
what's inside. I'll take off the petals, trying to reach its
soul," said the wife of Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Hemnan
Krishan Singh.

Mrinalini, whose name means "lotus" in Bengali Sanskrit,
explains that it led her to do what she does today. "It's always
remained with me," she added.

"The rose is the oldest flower and it is rich in myths and
tales. It grows and blooms. It doesn't demand that much from us
but offers something for us to enjoy. When it dies, it has
completed its circle, and gives us something to remember," she
said.

A student of Peruvian surrealist maestro Armendo Villegas,
Mrinalini's art is symbolic of what she is.

Her paintings are honest, highlighting her careful strokes and
her choice of soft, pastel colors. Some of her work tends to be
simple but -- be that as it may -- her strong aesthetic touches
make them worthy of appreciation.

Some, though, contain strong messages and a high-profile
philosophy that goes beyond the beauty she tries to convey.

One such is entitled The tsunami's eyes, in which she places
an immense blue rose and a smaller one at the center of the
canvas. The roses are in the middle of a stream of strong
currents and right below one of the roses, fruit scattered
beneath the current represents the loss of life.

"It's about balance, telling us that we are not in control as
human beings. We can control the world with politics and religion
but nothing really matters against the power of nature. In a few
minutes we become so fragile, the power and havoc you never
expect before come in and make you stop thinking about whom you
are and what you are because the only thing on your mind is
survival."

"The eyes of a tsunami look down at us at the universe and
tell us that we are nothing, lacking control of everything."

She said images from tsunami-hit areas brought home by
television disturbed her a lot.

"I just sit and keep on thinking, 'why am I here? What am I
doing? What have I done to others? What message I can share with
others?'" the mother of two grown-up children said.

Part of the proceeds from the exhibition will also go for the
benefit of children and women in Aceh and North Sumatra.

The Tsunami Eyes was finished on Dec. 31 when she had
originally planned to sit with her loved ones counting down the
minutes and ... celebrating her birthday.

Another painting, 9 September, Jakarta is also apparent in
reflecting Mrinalini's restless and tender heart. It is about the
Sept. 9 bombings at the Australian Embassy, South Jakarta, last
year.

In 9 September, Jakarta her roses are placed in chaotic lines
that divide the space into separate columns. Yellow and red paint
are used to highlight the chaos.

Mrinalini takes a weekly class from one of the country's
outstanding sculptors, Dolorosa Sinaga. "I enjoy it very much. It
gives me something different," said Mrinalini. Her sculptures
center around human gestures of fear, harmony, mourning and
happiness.

This may explain why her roses and sculptures are so easily
understood and enjoyed because she shows off her universality --
a common sense in her creativity.

Although she regards herself a global passenger and her home
is wherever she may happen to be, Mrinalini said that she was
proud of her origins.

"But I don't have to show it on my forehead or sign it on my
art. I feel the universality in my development and I hope my art
reflects that."

Roses -- From Me To You, a solo exhibition by Mrinalini Singh,
runs from Jan. 17 through Jan. 25, at the Mezzanine Lobby, Hotel
Gran Melia, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav. X , South Jakarta.