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Inspired by her love for adventure and nature, mountaineer Madhu Sarda has put her energetic emotions on canvas for art lovers to enjoy until the end of the month.
Her exhibition, entitled Yugen, is defined as an awareness of the universe and nature that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words…which rings true in terms of her showcase.
“Each and every artwork of mine has a part of my soul and that of my journey deeper in the mountains,” said the 45-year-old Nepali mandala artist and yoga instructor from Barbar.
The mother-of-two has spent the last few years travelling the world to trek and top the highest mountains on each of the seven continents as part of her ‘Seven Summit Sojourn’ dream project.
The ‘Seven Summit’ list, which can vary, includes Mount Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Mont Blanc and Australia’s Kosciuszko.
She set out on her mountainous mission in June last year starting with the African continent’s Mount Kilimanjaro and has also ticked Australia’s 2,228m Mount Kosciuszko off her list, thanks to the support of the Rashid Al Khalifa (RAK) Art Foundation’s $5,000 expedition pledge.
She also launched her third book Moon Mountain, Trek to Kilimanjaro in March on International Women’s Day at a ‘Woman Talk’ event.
Her expedition experiences have been turned into 36 pieces on display at the Colours of the East Gallery in Seef Mall, Muharraq— of which seven were created by her 19-year-old daughter Sejal, a sophomore studying architecture and computer science at the University of California, Berkley, in the US.
“The inspiration behind my exhibit, which is held under the patronage of Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, chairman of the National Arts Council (NAC), along with the Embassy of Nepal in Manama and the art gallery, are my trekking expeditions,” she said. “It features the humbling feeling that I get when I am in the mountains. Watching the sunrises and the golden hour at the mountain peaks is mesmerising.
“The nature is so calming that every moment spent on these journeys are like meditation. It’s not all easy, but even the aches are not so painful because you are in a different mental state.”
It took Madhu more than two years to complete all her works of art, some taking months and others a week. The collection was created using mixed media including acrylic, textures, patchwork, watercolour and gold leafs.
Her favourite paintings are Peacock and Naomi.
The art exhibit was inaugurated on August 8 by Shaikha Dwa bint Khalid Al Khalifa, a member of the NAC, on behalf of Shaikh Rashid.
Also in attendance were diplomats such as Nepalese ambassador Tirtha Raj Wagle and representatives of diplomatic missions, government officials, artists as well as gallery director Mahdi Al Jallawi, members of the media and invited guests.
During the opening, Madhu provided a briefing and tour of her artwork which included the Mithila and Mandala art of Nepal.
Mithila is a style of painting practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks.
Meanwhile, Mandala is a geometric design that is a symbolic picture of the universe. It is the circle that represents wholeness, totality, infinity, timelessness and unity.
The exhibition runs until August 28 and is open from 10am to 10pm.
Madhu is thankful for the support of her husband Sandip, a finance director, and her daughters Sejal, and St Christopher’s School student Sumedha, 16, for all their encouragement and support, as well as Shaikh Rashid, Mahdi and the ambassador.
She now aims to trek Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Aconcagua in South America at some point this year.
For details on her journey, follow @madhusarda.bh on Instagram.
