Another Indian face features at the Venice Biennale

Artist Nandita Chaudhari with her deft, expert brushstrokes expertly captures the fathomless forces of the recent tragedy in Japan. Her recent suite of works is driven by the fragility of human and land mass when hit by rampaging forces. Specks of dust that fly and swirl on her canvas tend to symbolize this.

The artist of Indian origin, born in Britain, has been invited to display her work at the prestigious Venice Biennale this year. She isn't a part of the official Indian Pavilion, but is elated to see Indian contemporary art getting it due recognition internationally. She has been quoted as saying, "It’s receiving global attention largely owing to market dynamics and also recognition of its rising equity."

As a migrant, her work is obviously drawn and bound to her roots. Many artists, as she underlines, initially work with specific cultural influences before migrating to locations where they lived and imbibed a totally different socio-cultural milieu. Their body of work is termed as transnational in nature.

Her work carries a mix of varied influences, with some Indian element invariably evident in some form somewhere. There are references to historical data that creep back into her work, apart from traditional iconology. Most definitely, she prefers warmer colors alongside a certain metaphor. The artist tends to identify with international artists who do not go by any set norms or rules. Although their work carries peculiar influence from home country, it would still have one common visual idiom - that of allowing mind to soar above matter.

It was an occasion to remember for the artist when her life size elephant (Boogie Woo) moved to Soho Square in London from her studio. The experience of it coming to life was one of the most memorable moments of her life. It was later auctioned off and acquired by the Chairman of Rothschild.

This young, who has received the Nehru Award, is known for her figurative and nude portraits, in particular. Her body of work has been featured at several leading museums and art institutions, allowing her to establish her reputation as an emerging talent.