The PIONEER- WORLD June 22, 2004

Nihonga paintings comes alive on Madhu's canvas.

Ritu Jha/San Francisco

 Art knows no boundaries to explore and artist like Madhu Jain, has tried to prove it in her Nihonga paintings, here in United States at the on going solo exhibition at San Francisco, Kalart gallery. This exhibition has come as an event of the 150th years of US-Japan relations. . ..

The Consul General of Japan San Francisco said "This year marks the 150th...I think it is very fitting that this exhibition, which symbolises the successful meeting and interaction of two cultural influences, should coincide with this anniversary of Japan-US relations." . She is the only Indian artist whose paintings have been selected by the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS) , here in USA, to exhibit her Nihonga- a Japanese painting style.

......Though the artist learned Nihonga paintings thousand of miles away from her motherland, she never forgot the essence and charm of her birthplace, Rajasthan. She says Nihonga is focuused on feeling. As a traditional art form it is very close to real life projection than abstract and modern paintings. Through her paintings, she shows the real life of village folks, .going about casually with their daily activity of carrying water, in intense heat and sandy winds of the desert state.

..Since the medium is relatively unknown to the contemporary artists outside Japan, it has been an aesthetic experience and a unique challenge- she has to face. ..the decision to study and research Nihonga was not easy for her. She had to go through the tedious study of Japanese language, ..which was the main hurdle...seeing her dedication to their culture, the artists and teachers of Nihonga helped her with the secrets and techniques of Nihonga painting.