Atul
Mehra is a versatile artist who expresses himself
through paintings, which belong to the school of
realism that serves to stir the soul.
Born into a merchant family, Atul proved to be an
exception and chose art over business. He also has
passion for music but sacrificed his interest in
music to dedicate his life to fine arts.
After equipping himself with a bachelor’s degree and
a 4-year diploma in Fine Arts, Atul commenced his
career as an artist that has now spanned over 30
years. Atul right from the early days of his career
has been honing his skills by churning out canvas
after canvas of exceptional work. Though felicitated
with many awards for his exemplary work, he remained
a down to earth person and he is easily accessible
to his fellow artists whom he counsels to improve
their work.
One of Atul’s noteworthy paintings can be found at
the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial in Amritsar. The 17.5
feet long canvas depicts the stark reality of the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The vivid portrayal of
General Dwyer’s men shooting every Indian at sight
wrenches the heart of every visitor to the memorial
even today. The above-mentioned memorial also
showcases one of his more serious paintings that
depicts Rabindra Nath Tagore in a somber mood after
receiving the news of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
As his career evolved, Atul’s experimentation led
him to the use of more bright and lively colours
combined with different innovative techniques. Such
a combination on canvas undoubtedly refreshes the
soul; heals the mind and invigorates the body. The
use of the canvas and the depth of brush strokes
reveal his maturity as an artist. One of the
outstanding examples of his recent works includes
the depiction of the beach on a dark night.
The huge
black cliffs in the background and the waves lashing
the shore enable the tormented viewer to calm down
and find inner peace through the ebb and flow of
waves. The luminosity of the foam has made even the
most casual observer remark that the portrayal seems
to have an inner light emanating from the water in
the painting.
Atul who now has a family with a wife, two daughters
and a son is currently the head of the Fine Arts
Department in Sacred Heart High School in Amritsar.
He has dedicated his life in grooming young talent
and nurturing children with an interest in art. He
is also currently the Principal of the Indian
Academy of Fine Arts in Amritsar wherein he trains
and guides serious youth who wish to make painting a
career.
Atul does not believe in the jargonisation of art
and emphasizes that art must reflect the perception
of the artist while simultaneously bringing about
happiness and calmness to the viewers. He is a firm
believer in the soothing and healing properties of
good art and the positive vibrations that such work
emanates.
His
expressions on the canvas usually make the viewer
introspect and contemplate on the mysterious nature
of God’s creation. His work is primarily on themes
like Indian landscape, the rich culture and rituals
of Punjab, the beauty of nature etc. His colours on
the canvas depict the bond between nature and human
life. His work usually expresses unbound emotions of
love, life, death and materialistic philosophy while
making the viewer reflect on the illusionary nature
of the same.
Atul is easily accessible and can be contacted by
e-mail for any clarification that may be needed
about his work.
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