Inspired by culture

Karen Rempel, who creates wonderful works of art attributes her amazing ability to years of international living and experience

Viswanath V

Karen Rempel, who trained in Canada, has mastered abstract and representational forms of art. Her portfolio has an eclectic mix. She shares: “Years of international living and experience has provided me the inspiration to create unique and diverse pieces.”

Indeed, anyone who looks at the three themes she has explored in her paintings currently on display at Beyond Coffee on Road No 36 at Jubilee Hills would vouch for this. If ‘Human & Nature’ is a series that presents subjects (the folks of the countryside) in a detailed and realistic style, it is because of her ability to make the onlooker feel that she is “peering through a portal to another era” and this makes her works exquisite. “This series has been made using oil as medium; these are smaller vividly coloured ones,” she points out.

On a tour of India, she has produced a delightful Hyderabad-centric series: Contradictions. “Living in Hyderabad and traveling around India is very inspirational as a painter. There are so many colourful sites and people are wearing the most interesting costumes. Because the culture is so diverse, there are many topics that an artist can use. The people are the most fascinating aspect of India for a foreigner. It is inspiring to look at the beauty, strength and spirit of the women of India and I like to capture that with my small oil paintings,” she tells us.

“Contradictions is the conflict between two opposing forces. I see this contradiction in many aspects of Indian culture, but what I have depicted is the conflict between the history and the future. This I did by showing Golkonda, the Qutub Shahi Tombs and the boulders, all of which have a visually and culturally strong history in Hyderabad, and the contrast of buildings being constructed by the influx of people. I am sad to see the natural surroundings of Hyderabad being eaten up by towering buildings, but I understand that the future is inevitable,” she adds.

Two of her paintings on ‘Mystical Charminar’, sold instantly. Elaborating on yet another series, DNA, she says, “Living in India has given me a unique perspective. I hope to develop that concept into a more mature series in the near future, incorporating some cultural images of India and abroad into these paintings.” The creative artist says that the proceeds of the show would go to a charitable organisation. The show is on till August 31.