Thick black lines curve boldly down the paper. The blank spaces and flowing lines suggest it is a bird, and it is. But a similar figure in another drawing has subtle, masterful variations which enhance and transform that perception, giving the rendition a more anthropomorphic feel.

Breaking stereotypes This is what makes Chennai’s senior-most woman artist, Premalatha Seshadri’s work so different and attractive. It is an exercise of the brain that forces the observer to imagine and think beyond the image.

"The 80s and After: A retrospective of Drawings, Paintings and Landscapes by Premalatha Seshadri" at The Pipal Tree Art Gallery, Centaur Furnishings and Interiors, Chennai, is showcasing her works till April 30.

Premalatha (67), who is also a poet, trained at the College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai, and was mentored by greats such as KCS Paniker, HV Ram Gopal, AP Samyjamaraj, L Munuswamy and Anthony Doss.

She moved from Bangalore to Chennai to study art in 1967. In a career spanning more than four decades Premalatha’s solo exhibitions have been held in Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New Delhi and Chennai.

Varied explorations Of this exhibition Premalatha says, “This exhibition is a small collection of my works in different media.” The artist started with oils and moved to a simple monochrome palette in the 1970s.

It was after this period that she took to etching, a method of making prints from a metal plate. The exhibition has works like the famous Birds, Injambakkam and the Hunt series. Swapna Satish, professor of art history and design at Stella Maris College, Chennai, says Premalatha’s contribution to the art scene is immense as a poet and an artist. “The use of a lot of empty space and lines in her work conveys a sense of energy, which comes through remarkably,” she adds.

On her style and choice of medium, Premalatha says, “It is a very natural inclination and it developed instinctively.”

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