New Delhi is one of the more fascinating cities in the world. Part of a huge country with a dizzying array of cultures, it’s one of the main centers where people from all over come to gather. Art and life blend in unusual ways, reflecting a multiplicity of sensibilities. It’s one of those places that’s impossible to grasp. There’s simply too much of everything at once, and once it starts to make sense, it will very quickly dissipate and turn into a whirlwind once again.
That’s part of its appeal, of course, and the reason why millions are drawn to Delhi, to either live, or to simply enjoy some time in the Delhi hotels .
Many people come to the city and hope to get some idea of the local culture, and art is a gateway for certain. It creates more problems and confusion, and fortunately these are displayed in their loveliest and most provocative forms. There is no one style that characterizes the place, just as there is no center for Indian art. Too many influences, too many schools, and too many languages enter into a sphere that is already ripe for influence from the realms of inspiration. These realms also prove themselves as infinite, and this is perhaps seen, even clearly at times, in the work of Anjolie Ela Menon .
She is of Bengali and U.S. heritage, and has made Delhi her home after having lived all over the world. Her journey has taken her to Paris, New York, and beyond, and she still travels frequently, because her success as an artist makes her schedule very demanding.
Menon
‘s body of work is nothing less than stunning, and she has been prolific in painting and glass sculpture in the past 35 years. Having completed 40 paintings before she left school at 16 years of age, she followed this remarkable pace all her life, and continues to create new and challenging works today. Her work sometimes has what may be termed “traditional Indian themes,” with images of goddesses and gods, but they are more frequently inhabited by images of her close family, reflecting a very personal reality that in turn shapes a very lively city.