Pooja Acharya and Jugnee presented Persephone Paintings by Sheetal Dewan

Art curator Pooja Acharya and Jugnee presented  Persephone Paintings

 by Sheetal Dewan

With dance and music by 

Terence Lewis & Raghav Singh

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai, August 30, 2015: Pooja Acharya and Jugnee presented ‘Persephone’ a unique installation centered on a series of paintings by artist Sheetal Dewan, unveiled through an electrifying dance performance by ace choreographer Terence Lewis with original scores by Raghav Singh. The event was held at the popular Mumbai nightclub Tryst, with the who’s who of Mumbai society in attendance. A part of the show’s proceeds will go towards the Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation (MSMF), a non-profit organization that aims to establish advanced cancer care infrastructure that is accessible to all, promoting translational research with a focus on India and providing philanthropic support to cancer patients.

The installation was based on the legend of Persephone, daughter of Greek God Zeus and his consort Demeter. This one of a kind presentation, blends performing and visual art, and outlines the evolution of woman from being a child with untouched innocence and unfettered dreams to growing into gaining a sense of worldliness, wisdom, of love and discovering her own power and great strength. The event had been curated by Pooja Acharya, a successful art curator who has curated various private collections in India and overseas.

Says artist Sheetal Dewan, “Persephone’s journey is the journey of every woman. It is dramatic, and resonates deeply with audiences, for at its core, it is one of self-discovery. I imagine it in colors, alluring colors, colors that spoke to her in the middle of the night or deep within the conversation of another; the greens enriched her, the blues allowed her to breathe, the yellow made her feel. This passage and evolution is captured on canvas for this installation.”

Pooja who has in the past successfully conceptualized and executed Art for Concern: Concern India Foundation; Mumbai Art Festival: a unique public private partnership that has showcased and promoted upcoming artist along with established artists, says,  “It’s never been done before in India – this coming together of art and dance in this form. We want to provide a platform for presentation of the works by Sheetal Dewan in a way that was truly evocative of the spirit that infuses them. The unique trinity of art, music and dance brings this forth.”

ABOUT POOJA ACHARYA: New York based Pooja Acharya has been curating private collections internationally for the last 15 years. In addition this Mumbai girl has conceptualized and executed events like Art for Concern for the Concern India foundation and Mumbai Art Festival, a unique public private initiative that has showcased and promoted upcoming artists along with established artists. 

She lives between Mumbai and New York  

ABOUT SHEETAL DEWAN: One can see the universe in her canvas, a medley of natural elements colliding and merging, engaging in a divine dance, to coalesce into images that derive from the depths of consciousness.

A degree in fine art from the College of Art, Delhi, combined with inspiration from her self taught artist mother, to produce an education that has evolved through collections and exhibitions all over the country, into a style that is distinctly her own. A deep interest in psychology and the workings of the unconsciousness led her to pursue a degree in the subject. Every time she now raises her brush to canvas, it is coloured with the depth of the knowledge of the psyche, an understanding of the depths of our natures. Her interest in the occult, in tarot and astrology, adds yet another dimension to her work.

 While a strong leitmotif underlines her best works, one also glimpses paradoxes within. Abstract and classical at the same time. Strong, yet lyrical in her use of colors. Ephemeral and simultaneously energetic. This is the work of an artist, which leaves one constantly on the edge. The essence is right upfront, visible. And yet beyond the surface, there is something deeper that tantalizes, and draws one further into the soul of the work. That transcends color, form and canvas and exists purely as the echo of the elements, of the soul.

ABOUT Terence Lewis:  Internationally trained dancer, performer and teacher par excellence, master choreographer, celebrity judge, the guru of Indian contemporary dance- Terence Lewis, is the Artistic Director and Founder of the TL Inc- the Terence Lewis Inc, (since 1999),that stands as one of the countries most reputed Dance Institutions. Terence Lewis is the recipient of several awards and honors and has to his credit and has been the catalyst for several cross cultural projects on international stages. Drawing inspiration from life itself, for Terence ‘art’ is thus limitless and the possibilities endless.

ABOUT JUGNEE: Jugnee, a pioneer initiative, by Terence Lewis, offers a non – profit and neutral platform to dancers for an unparalleled learning experience.  In differing formats, from a 4 day long festival, featuring International Workshops, Dance film Screenings, Panel Discussions by Eminent personalities and Performances along with associations with stalwarts in the cultural arena such as NCPA, Prithvi, Maxmeuller Bhavan, L’Alliance Francaise, British Council, etc. Jugnee grows in strength every year. Jugnee 2015 also had on board Impulstanz- the worlds largest Contemporary Dance Festival, that awarded a free training scholarship in Vienna to the most meritorious participant. Jugnee 2015 was a grand success but it came at a high price – which was borne entirely by Curator- Terence Lewis and supported by his Company- the TLCDC.