MUMBAI.- Michelle Poonwalla is showing a series of new artworks in the exhibition The Tangible Imaginative, at Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai. The Tangible Imaginative runs from 14-31, January. Alongside Michelle, the exhibition presents work by Anwar, Brinda Miller, Jaideep Mehrotra, Kallpana Shah, Kisalay Vora, Ravi Mandlik Revati, Sharma Singh and Shruti Jhaveri.

Michelle is presenting four new oil on canvas works - Blue Wave, Desert Rose, Forest Flutter and Flutter Fly - which come from the artists Butterfly Series and feature three dimensional, sculptural elements affixed to the canvas. Talking about the exhibition Michelle said “I have loved attending Mumbai Gallery Weekend over the last few years and I am delighted to be showing work there in 2021 as part of The Tangible Imaginative at Tao Art Gallery. MGW is such a great initiative for the Mumbai arts scene and even more so this edition I hope it brings something positive to look forward to after a difficult year.”

Michelle’s paintings create a strong sense of physicality and presence whilst also showing a delicate interplay between the light and shadow. Painted in a range of bold colours the works feature gold effect butterflies, reflecting the light and creating subtle shadows on the canvas.

True to its historically experimental nature, art cannot be confined to any particular platform or medium and The Tangible Imaginative presents work that is both tangible and intangible, allowing the viewer to physically experience and mentally feel the paintings on show. Talking about the exhibition Sanjana Shah, Tao Art Gallery’s Creative Director, said “To understand the art, one must understand its essence, by interacting with every aspect of it minutely. The marks, strokes, textures and layers mirror our own multifaceted nature of being. Therefore the personal experience of art is incomparable and completes this necessary process of connection. Each artwork is made to trigger the surreal imagination with its very real and tangible presence. Each artwork is made to move you.”

Michelle Poonawalla is an artist who lives and works between London, UK, and Pune, India. Poonawalla’s works explore universal, socially engaged topics that resonate with a diverse range of audiences, creating powerful memories and moving experiences. Her practice combines cutting-edge technology and traditional artistic mediums in an emotionally charged and poetic form; often utilizing sound, video mapping, projection, motion sensors and other techniques to bring her innovative paintings and installations to life. Her seminal piece, Introspection (2018), is a striking, immersive experiential artwork which leaves many viewers moved and affected, whilst inspiring them to take action in their own lives.

Poonawalla has exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London (as part of START, September 2019); Alserkal Avenue, Dubai (Dubai Art Week, March 2019); and as a collateral project at the Kochi Biennale, India (Kochi-Muziris Biennale, 2018). More recently Poonawalla has begun exploring work with shorter digital format films. Her 3min 36 second film Circle of Life addresses the idea of memory was exhibited at the 7th Mediations Biennale in Poland. Other digital works have been shown on SedtionArt.com and at the recent World Art Dubai, 2020.