When artist Simran Rajani left her native India a decade ago and made the 8,000-mile trek to New Jersey, she left behind the Ravi River, the Nanda Devi Mountain, and the Gengetic Plains.
But she brought the memory of these places with her. Rajani is now sharing these memories with Secaucus through an exhibit of her paintings at the library.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in art back home, Rajani spent her first two years in the United States actively painting, showing her work, and making periodic sales. But, as is the case with many artists, life intervened.
“I did a lot of exhibitions, about seven or eight years ago,” Rajani said. “After my kids were born, though, I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on my art.”
The married mother of two hopes to immerse herself back into her art now that her youngest child is five.
The exhibition at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center is Rajani’s first step in that journey.
The more than 13 pieces on display represent a broad cross section of Rajani’s work, both old and new.
Hunger of memory
One theme unites nearly every piece in the exhibition: Rajani’s recollections of India.
A few of the works pay homage to well-known Hindu gods, including Ganesha, recognizable for his elephant head, and Krishna.
One of her older pieces is a four-part series of paintings on silk that depict Krishna’s stages of life, from his “divine incarnation” and “pastoral childhood,” to his “life as a heroic warrior.”
Larger oil-on-canvas paintings reflect a more universal spirituality. The painting of women collecting water from a river, an Indian village scene, and a contemplative woman standing before a tulsi plant – widely regarded as medicinal and holy in Rajani’s native land – have a more meditative quality to them.
Rajani said she does not paint on silk or do pieces like the “Krishna Leela” series now because it’s too time consuming. Instead, she focuses on works that can be completed within a few weeks, if not days. Her “Lord Ganesh,” for example, wasn’t painted with the fine strokes of a brush, but rather with the broad sweeping motions of a plastic knife.
“I don’t paint a lot, but I do paint,” she said. “Or I’ll sit outside and sketch the roofs of the other houses when the children are at the park.”
Rajani, a devout Hindu, describes herself as “a spiritual person,” but said she tries to create art that evokes a feeling of calm, rather than a religious message.
Several of her newer works are colorful crepe paper collages of nature scenes.
“I like bright colors. It gives me such a lovely feeling,” she said. “When you see these colors you feel a positive energy, I think. I paint what I like to hang up in my own home.”
‘A nice feeling about it’
Rajani makes her home in Harmon Cove, where her family has lived for the last five years. Previously the family lived in Edgewater and Little Ferry.
But Rajani said she likes it here, adding, “Secaucus is a nice town.”
Each Tuesday evening she teaches an art class to local youth at the A.C. Moore on Mill Creek Drive.
Having been something of a closeted artist for many years, she said she now relishes the prospect of her neighbors seeing another side to her. But mostly, she said, she just wants the community to enjoy the exhibit.
“I’d like for people to see my work,” Rajani said, smiling, “and just have a nice feeling about it.”
Rajani’s work will be on display in the second floor Panasonic Room at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center through the end of May.