Jenny Bhatt

Bombay Times, Front Page

Straight Answers

“Art should move you emotionally and intellectually”

Your works were recently auctioned internationally….

I’ve just returned from a two-month trip to the US where a couple of my works were auctioned at two of the world’s largest auctions. I also got a chance to meet Raza and saw some unusual art, which has definitely influenced my work.

How is Indian art different from American art?

Indian art is much more intuitive, because it’s influenced by our culture. But the works of most American artists are cold, because they are head-centric in their approach to art. Art should move you emotionally, uplift you spiritually and stimulate you intellectually.

You have been influenced by some of the works you came across in the US…

The art in Vancouver was pretty interesting; it was a mix of art and craft actually. Artists used products like shoes to make totem poles, chairs as dinosaur skeletons etc. I liked the concept.

You also learnt ‘aura reading’ abroad…

I have always been interested in spirituality. Aura reading is a special technique whereby one can see colours in a person’s aura. My art is extremely colour-centric, I’m a colourist by nature, and I perceive things and people in shades of colour. So aura reading has influenced my art as well.