Biography
A Sufi dervish seems to whirl to the inaudible sound of divine bliss taking you with him on his journey. You dip into a stunning interplay of light, as chromes, ochres, reds, and oranges meld in together. Is it dusk you are at or are we witnessing the sunrise? You look again with a shift in perspective. Now a beam of light leads your eye from the top to down below, and you watch the dervish fall, no end in sight as if surrendering to some unknown truth.
It is this idea of surrender that strikes you in Rumi’s poetry. It is also this poignant idea you come across when you look at Noor, one of Radhika Seksaria’s latest works from her collection called "Sifar.” An ode to Rumi’s philosophy, Radhika’s works give us a glimpse of her own search for the divine, the blissful and beautiful source of all existence and creation.
The ideas of unconditional love and surrender form the basis of Radhika’s work as an artist. Her previous collection “Miraaya” also tells us a similar story. Meerabai’s love for Krishna is a well-known event in Hindu culture. But Radhika’s interpretation of Meerabai once again takes us into the world of divine, mystical love that goes beyond all societal rules and limitations.
Seeking the divine truth, Radhika has created numerous works across the themes of love, peace, tranquility, and ecstasy in her career as an artist spanning 2 decades. Originally from Gorakhpur, UP, Radhika started painting way back in school, winning many awards and accolades at that time too.
Destiny brought Radhika to Mumbai after marriage, where she got the opportunity to enhance her creative skills. As a result, Radhika proceeded to create beautiful, luminous artworks and a place for herself in the art scene of India. Her oeuvre has been exhibited in famous exhibitions across the globe, in countries such as the United States, London, UAE, and India. Radhika’s paintings adorn the walls of many art aficionados and have received praise from several recognized personalities.
Life seems to have come full circle and now Radhika’s latest venture, her art gallery, seems to be an effort to bring the experience of viewing and appreciating art to patrons and art enthusiasts alike. Just like her collections, the gallery, too, is a space to ‘ruminate’ in ‘sukoon’ (peace), and absorb the beauty and unhurried pace of life. And, if viewers wish to have a short guftugu (conversation) with the artist, all they have to do is make a prior appointment.
Look at another work from the Rumination collection called “Abadit," a mixed media on canvas painting, and you once again meet with surrender. A whirling dervish bathed in light, moving to the song divine. Yet another piece called “Parwaaz” depicts flying birds. Another mainstay of Rumi’s work. For Rumi, birds represented the soul and flight was the longing to once again unite with the lord and master.
Radhika’s oeuvres, too, carry a whiff of this longing to merge with the divine. Playing with light, color, and texture, what emerges is a tapestry of spiritual imagination, love’s longing, and the search for oneself.
As Rumi’s teacher and instructor Attar once wrote:
“Give in, relinquish your soul
Then hush, be at peace.”
Radhika’s art invites you to seek the truth and immerse yourself in it. She invites you to take the spiritual path and live with joy and bliss.