Badri Nath Arya (b. 1936)

Acquired from a private Dubai collection

There are minor spots of paint loss and creases along the edges of the painting. This work is in good condition, as viewed.
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Born in Peshawar B.N. Arya migrated with his family to India following Partition, settling in Lucknow. Showing no inclination towards the family business, Arya instead developed an interest in art and photography leading him to acquire a Diploma in Painting and Sculpture from the Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts.

Arya’s works depict Indian culture, customs and myths and are executed in a masterful watercolor technique that is deeply influenced by the Bengal School. Not content to merely emulate the Romantic conventions of the Bengal School, Arya infuses his works with a pulsating dynamism. The vibrant colors bring his works to life with a startling immediacy. It is this experimentation with the classical wash style that is Arya’s remarkable achievement and lies at the heart of his oeuvre.

Under the Banyan Tree depicts a ubiquitous village scene, unchanged in rural India since time immemorial. The powerful yet meticulously painted banyan tree dominates the picture, it’s splayed out roots and branches offering succor from the heat of the midday sun to the figures resting beneath. The shimmering rainbow-hued background makes the heat almost palpable lending the painting a unique, emotive quality.

The Expressionistic Madhuban is Arya’s rendition of the mythical forest of Krishna’s childhood where he cavorted with his companions, the Gopis, much to the chagrin of his beloved consort Radha. Through the lush foliage the artist allows us a glimpse of the lissome maidens who seem to float in this dreamlike rainbow-hued landscape. The glowing color tones, superimposed upon each other create a psychedelic, intoxicating effect transporting the viewer to this enchanting scene celebrated in Hindu scriptures and poetry over millennia.