HIMANSHU GURU, OP
Her canvas is filled with colours expressing offbeat emotions and Rajnandini Mahapatra is bent to creating a new artistic universe of her own…
There are only a few people who are lucky to grab big recognition at a tender age. Meet Rajnandini Mahapatra, a young artist from Puri, who has gathered big accolades at a young age. A second year student of Bachelor in Business Administration, the youngster hails from a servitor family dedicated to the service of Lord Jagannath in the Srimandir. Her favourite subject in painting is representing women in different moods and feels. The artist was recently in Bhubaneswar for her solo exhibition when Orissa POST chatted with her about her paintings.
Daughter of Rajshree and Batakrushna Mohapatra, popularly known as Appu nana, of Harachandi sahi in Puri, Rajnandini passed HSC from St. Xavier School at Veera Harekrishnapur and then plus II from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Puri. She is now continuing her second year BBA in SCS College in Puri. Nilkanth is her elder brother. Her father is a businessman and mother is a homemaker.
“I started doing paintings with subjects like landscapes, animals and birds when I was in Class VII. In the School I always get awarded in drawing and painting competitions. Biswamohan Rath, the art teacher in my School was the first to recognize my talent. He has guided me a lot and he is my mentor. Later during my plus II I started painting in canvas,” the artist said about her early days.
Asked about her versatility in painting Rajnandini said, “I do oil paintings, charcoal paintings, glass paintings, acrylic paintings and pencil drawings besides m-seal creations. When it comes to subject of my works, I love to create different feels and moods of women in the canvas.” The reporter witnessed many paintings in the exhibition related to women.
The young artist also deserves kudos since she hails from a servitor family of Puri who came out to explore her talent in the state capital, since normally people from the sebayat families have some restrictions.
Rajnandini has participated and awarded in a number of competitions and exhibitions in the state, in the national level as well as on the internet. She participated in exhibitions like the Group Art Exhibition, Delhi, Kalaprav, Chandigarh, Dhauli Art Festival, Bhubaneswar, and 83rd All India Art Exhibition in Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar, Fine XT national mini Art work, Indore and the 3rd National Late OP Jadha Smriti Exhibition.
The young girl has been awarded in many exhibitions. At Art Voyage exhibition, Chandigarh she received an award and got the title ‘Artist of the show’ thanks to her painting titled ‘Healing girl’ which was later sent to the museum of Chandigarh for public exhibition. She won a gold medal in 2016 for her painting ‘Tribal Saraswati’, in an exhibition organized at the Modern Art Gallery on the occasion of Shilpi Diwas. She also got the title ‘artist of the show’ at the Kalipatnam Art Award, 2017 for her painting showcasing tribal culture.
These days many organizations also organize and award painting exhibitions on the internet. The young girl has participated and got awarded in many of these competitions. She participated in Rang Sang 2017 and the 27th Real Art Point Online art exhibition. She was awarded in the International Women Art Exhibition organized by Bindas Art Group, for her painting ‘Masked Lady’, and in the Passerine: Born to fly online painting contest, where she got the appreciation award. She has sent her painting for the Inkals Fine Art award competition, whose result is yet to come.
Rajnandini intimated that she had been selected to participate in the upcoming International Art Fair, scheduled to be held at the Janata Maidan in the capital city in November 26 to 29. She will be provided with a gallery to showcase her paintings in this popular exhibition where works of about 350 painters from around the world will be exhibited.
“My first inspiration is my teacher,” said the young artist. Asked whether facilities in terms of opportunity and funding to groom budding painters, are abundant in the state she said, “So far I have not taken it as a profession. It is my hobby which later became my passion. So, I can’t say correctly the facilities available are enough or not. Just I can say that I have not faced any hardship and am cool.”
“I would like to represent my country in the international level through my brush strokes,” Rajnandini signed off.
