
Harleen Kaur
Born: 1989
Hometown: New Delhi
Based in: Dehradun
Having worked in Public Relations for a few years, I followed my dream of being close to the art world after completing intensive short courses in Art curation, Contemporary art market as well as Art history at The Sotheby’s Institute in New York in 2014. Learning a lot during that time, visiting not only established but also newly set up galleries, I then returned to Delhi to work with startup galleries as a consultant, eventually moving onto specializing in gallery and exhibition set -ups, a niche area that is invaluable to artists as well as new comers in the gallery space.
These years of working and interacting with young artists motivated me to complete a full circle and start painting once again, which is something I had always dabbled in, informally.
The act of painting for me may be spontaneous and develops with each stroke or medium applied, however, the sentiment and idea behind it is most certainly a definite thought. I work with a host of different mediums and tools to create textures and layers, which is what I love about my practice. The open-ended nature of the abstractions, allow the viewers to decide for themselves the various possibilities and narratives of each work!
My first show ‘Unt1tled’ in November 2017, was a collection of honest abstract expression inspired by a particular mood, environment, memory or sensation at a particular point in time. It was completely spontaneous, unpremeditated and unplanned at the moment of execution. The various textures, strokes and medium were a reflection of a very unconstrained and fluid implementation that seems to float in and out of one’s consciousness, all the while remaining familiar - yet just out of grasp.
My second solo show ‘Confluence’ in October 2019, came about after my visit to Amritsar in January 2019. Visits to the Partition Museum, my ancestral home and the Golden Temple brought about a sense of nostalgia in some ways and also that of ‘belonging’.
It immediately led to a million ideas brewing in my head and in turn the pièce de résistance‘Undivided’. My work titled ‘Undivided’ is a creative representation on pre partition Punjab-The land of the 5 rivers and that of my ancestors.
Other facets of the collection were an amalgamation of my memories and impressions of travels to my childhood home in the hills of Kasauli, as well as the articulation of feelings and emotions inspired by a particular environment, state of mind, memory or sensation.
Harleen Kaur In The Studio
More About Harleen Kaur
What inspires you?
The act of painting for me, may be spontaneous and develops with each stroke or medium applied, however, the sentiment and idea behind it is most certainly a definite thought. The open ended nature of my abstraction allow the viewer to decide for himself or herself the various possibilities and narratives for each work.
Describe your creative process.
It usually has a process and flow of its own, inpired generally by something in my immediate surroundings or places I've recently travelled to. Other times, I just want to explore or work on a new technique, revisit an old one or use a particular colour palette on the canvs and thats how the process begins. I enjoy challenging myself with new mediums and I am always looking at out of the box materials to use to create one of a kind artwork!
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Abtract. Expressionism. Mixed media. Exploration. Textural. Multi layered. Movement.
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Mark Rothko. Jackson Pollock. Zarina Hashmi. Henri Matisse. Olafur Eliasson. Sidharth. Yayoi Kusama. F.N Souza. S H Raza.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Instinct! It is the most trutworthy tool of all. I always rely on it for my work.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
To paint with feeling and heart, not with what 'should' be or what is commercially viable. I have followed this advice from the get go and it has never let me down. Also, to never be afraid to express my emotions onto my canvas, it is the most liberating feeling of all!
Where do you go for inspiration?
Inspiration lies all around me- in the little things, anywhere from colour to even just composition.