The flames shooting away from the intensively hot epicenter in all directions; fire burning up everything, reducing everything to ashes, flames in the sky burning helplessly caught birds, flames from angry volcanoes; flames from the inner self of man ruthlessly destroying everything; flames that destroys, purifies – these are some of the images in Ila Pal’s paintings titled “Fire”.
In one of the best exhibitions ever held by her, Ila Pal creates many fire images – bright and awesome. We see a powerful release of energy – a face of the terrifying, mysterious universe.
And in the paintings, we see art with a high-calibre language – used by a sensitive artist. We see abstracted burning images.
And Ila has always an eye for aesthetics. Ila Pal is holding an exhibition after 12 years at the Hirji Jehangir Art Gallery till Tuesday.
Ila Pal: “I am a regular visitor to Banaras and have spent many a languorous hour, floating down the river watching the burning ghaats. The flames licked the pitch dark sky’s while friends and family of those departed celebrated the life that was. There is no wailing here, there is no sadness. Here, the fire represents life and death all at once and the human journey at its best. Many come here to die while the wind carries with it the sound of shehnai’s celebrating the human spirit finally merging with god.” The image of fire is tremendously inspiring as it portrays power and the transitory aspect of nature. These works are bold and dramatic with the flaming hue’s so striking that all those who set eyes on them are immediately overwhelmed by emotion.