Indu Varma

Dates: July 4 – August 29, 2025

From time immemorial the birds have served as messengers, as teachers, as story tellers, and as a bridge between the earth and the sky.

I have been fascinated by birds since my childhood. When I observe them, I think of freedom because they fly high in wide open spaces. I admire their courage to leave the safety of their nest and their need to explore the enormous possibilities around them. They wander into unknown territories, and they focus on the present moment. They are adventurous enough to engage in new experiences. Above all, they fly high on the strength of their own wings. This is how I want to live.

I have vivid memories of watching the mesmerizing beauty of peacocks dancing in the rain, the parrots chirping away perched on mango trees in my mother’s garden, my father feeding the birds daily before eating his breakfast … reminding me through his example that we are all a part of the intricate and far-reaching interconnected web of life.  Every form of life, no matter how small must be treated with respect.

My life has been shaped by my two mothers – my birth mother India and my mother that nurtured me for more than five decades – Canada. The vast open skies of Canada with geese and eagles swooping through the skies, the quiet stillness, the rhythm of tides of Bay of Fundy, the surrounding forests gave me new ways of experiencing the land and relating to all that surrounds me.

The artworks presented in this body of work are influenced by the various birds in both countries. For me, these feathered creatures don’t serve as a backdrop. Instead, they are an integral part of life – as friends, and revered companions interwoven through legends, stories, rituals and rhythm of life. The wisdom, and the lessons we can learn from birds transcend cultural boundaries. From the ancient scriptures in India to the Indigenous stories in Canada, the tales of various birds interwoven through our art and literature have conveyed a deep, philosophical meaning about life.

My art works, rooted in the abstract realism style draw inspiration from both Eastern and Western cultures that honour birds as symbols of grace, transformation, and wisdom. My mixed media paintings and sculptures are based on an exploration of my intimate bond with nature, my feathered friends, the land, and humanity.

The stories emerge in my artworks through bold colours, textures, and movement. The figures, colours, and shapes complement each other while creating dynamism and energy that invite the viewer to reflect on the symbolisms presented at a spiritually uplifting level.