Exhibition in Rotterdam.....by Indian abstract artist Manisha Vedpathak

Have been away from my blog for really long time. Had a marriage in the family , my younger daughter joined Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Holland. Had been with her in Rotterdam for a month. During that time I met a very warm personality Zoe  Cochia, when I visited her gallery Niffo Galerie/ Recycle studio . Here are some pics taken in her Gallery .
 

I found her Galerie very interesting and active. She gave me an opportunity to exhibit in her group show themed ,"Potato..Home coming", which  was held on 7th Oct'2018. I wasn't able to attend the show as I had already returned to India but I handed over two of my small paintings to her which were exhibited in the show. Here are the two paintings:


It's a small 20x20 cms , ink medium on canvas. The theme being potato, the two potatoes in the painting represent me and my younger daughter who is studying in Rotterdam and the blue water represents Holland which is famous for it's canals . The symbols in the painting are the adinkra symbol Gye Nyame, which is for supreme God.

Yet another "Gye Nyame"....by Manisha Vedpathak

Yet another painting of Gye Nyame, the Adinkra symbol.

I have never mentioned in my earlier posts about the hostory of 

these symbols apart from their  origin. Here is the history of these symbols:

 The Adinkra symbols  were originated  in Gyaman of Cote d'Ivoire
and Akan tribe of Ghana. According to an Asante (a tribe in Ghana)
legend, Adinkra was the name of a king of the Gyaman.
Adinkra was defeated and captured in a battle by the Asantes
 for having copied the “Golden Stool” (the symbol of the Asante nation). 

He was finally killed and his territory annexed to the kingdom of 

Asante.  His adinkra robe was taken as a trophy( a patterned

 cloth, which was interpreted as a way of expressing his sorrow 

on being taken  to the capital of Asante).The Asante people

 around the 19th century then took to painting of traditional 

symbols of the Gyamans onto cloth.

 Adinkra means goodbye. Originally, the cloth was worn only by the

 royalty and spiritual leaders for mourning during funeral services.

 It can now be worn by anyone for any occasion. The symbols and their 

meanings are still used to convey a message. Approximately four hundred 

such symbols are known in Ghana. 

"Gye Nyame"

Acrylic on canvas,15.7"x15.7"

Available
To purchase or for more information regarding any of my paintings,contact me : manishavedpathak@gmail.com

"Supremacy II"...An acrylic painting by Manisha Vedpathak

While in the last month of my stay in Ghana ,I completed a painting

which was first in my new series and was titled "Supremacy". That 

painting was sold immediately (thanks to Darryl Wakefeild)so I sketched 

a new one to add to my series. That was left without any paint 

on it as I was in the process of  relocating. It's now complete 

and hope you all enjoy this as well.

It has the same subject as in "Supremacy", like Chiefs from Ghana 

with the Royal ladies wearing colorful head turbans, Adinkra symbols ,

the Royal umbrella which is used to shelter the Chiefs, Ghanaian

designs which are normally used in their textiles composed different

shapes.

Here the one that  was sold in its new home....

And here is the new one....

"Supremacy II"

Acrylic on canvas, 24"x48"

"Supremacy"....Contemporary figurative painting by Manisha Vedpathak

I totally enjoyed this painting. Right from the composition 

to the color combination to the finishing touches.

Two male and female figures from Royal family are portrayed 

in an abstract style.Male figure with large gold bead necklace and
golden band on the forehead, is the tribal chief. I always 

love the way the African ladies wear their headgear. You will find 

them in several of my paintings. There are the Adinkra symbols
that are related to Royalty.
The circle in the center is called "Adinkrahene", which is
chief of all Adinkra symbols and symbolizes greatness, leadership.
The symbol "Gye Nyame" which is showed halfway in a rectangular
 shape shows the supremacy of God, that no one is above God.

In the upper right corner below the circle in green color is the design
 of "Kente" cloth. Kente cloth is woven in bright, narrow strips with
 complex patterns; it's usually made from cotton and is always 
woven outdoors, exclusively by men.Kente cloth is a festive cloth
and is traditionally worn during the festivals and the religious occasions.

Upper right and left corners are the umbrellas. During the festivals ,
tribal chiefs and Queen mothers are shaded with these traditional umbrellas.
These all are combined with some geometrical shapes used in textile designs.

There is a lot to see in this painting .Hope you  enjoy this painting as much as I enjoyed.

"Supremacy"
Acrylic on canvas, 27.5"X50"

"Melange"....An acrylic painting by Manisha Vedpathak

"Melange"

Acrylic on canvas,35"x35"

Melange is a French word for the mix of different

colors and shapes. This name was suggested by

 a friend on facebook. There are faces ,motifs that

are used in Ghana, the Adinkra symbols which are

very widely used for decoration as well as on textiles,

and also the silhouttes of  human figures in African

style.

Some more Adinkra Symbols

"Wawa Aba"-Adinkra symbol....symbol of toughness,perseverance.

 Pen on thick card paper,A4 size

 

"Hye Wonhye"-Adinkra symbol...symbol of imperishability,endurance.

 Pen on thick card paper,A4 size

Back from holidays....

Hello to you all. I am back from India,after

a satisfying time spent with my daughter and rest

of family members.Have got a lot of paints from India.

Want to start painting right away but still stuck in some

household chores. Till then enjoy some of the doodled

Adinkra symbols.

"Kwatakye Atiko"...symbol of bravery

pen on A4 size, thick card paper

 

"Gye Nyame"...symbol of supremacy of God

Pen on A4 size ,thick card paper

 

Shall post a few more in my next post.

Enjoy!!!

 

 



An Acrylic painting.Chain Links...An Adinkra symbol used by Ashanti People

Chain Links..An Adinkra symbol.

Acrylic on canvas,16" * 24"

This is one more symbol used by Ashanti people

from Ghana,West Africa.I have done one symbol

earlier called Gye Nyame.You can find the image in

my earlier posts.The meaning of this symbol is unity

 and human relations.In unity lies strength.

These are visual symbols and represent concepts

There are many different symbols with distinct

 meanings often linked with proverbs originally

created by Akans of Ghana and Gyaman of

Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa.

I may try some more in the same abstract style.