Sattva, Rajas, Tamas” Come Alive on Canvas – Dr. Renu Shahi’s Indian Philosophical Art Shines in Sri Lanka

Colombo/Jaipur, July 14,2025
In a vibrant celebration of artistic expression and cultural wisdom, Indian artist Dr. Renu Shahi has drawn deep admiration for her spiritually inspired paintings at an international art exhibition titled “Uncharted”, held at the Curado Art Space in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Organized by the Rainbow Art Group, New Delhi, this cross-border exhibition featured 49 contemporary artists from six countries, each offering their unique visual interpretations. Amid this diversity, Dr. Shahi’s works stood out — not only for their aesthetic depth but also for their philosophical grounding.

Her three paintings, inspired by verses from the Bhagavad Gita, revolved around the three fundamental qualities of human nature: Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (inertia). Through rich symbolic imagery and subtle layering, she represented these gunas not merely as abstract ideas, but as divine forces shaping the human experience. Each artwork intertwined color, mythology, and introspection into a single visual meditation.

The exhibition, which ran from July 4th to 10th, was inaugurated by Shanila Alles, Director of Curado Art Space, and curated by Virendra Kumar, the visionary founder of Rainbow Art Group. The group’s mission is to highlight artists who explore Indian culture, spirituality, and heritage through their canvas, offering them a global stage to be seen and heard.

“For us, art is a language that speaks beyond words,” said Kumar. “It transcends geography and unites minds — whether you’re from Jaipur or Jakarta.”

Alongside Dr. Shahi, notable artists such as Banita Rani Singh, Bhaskar Ghosh, Dr. Chetna Agarwal, Manju Saad, Manoj Chakravarty, and Nayana Mevada, among others, showcased their works. Artists hailed not just from India but also from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Indonesia, and Belarus. Each piece was a window into the artist’s soul — and some of those windows were so captivating that a few artworks were sold, a testament to the audience’s deep connection with the themes.

Rainbow Art Group has, over the years, emerged as a powerful platform nurturing both emerging and established talent. Its exhibitions reflect a belief that “art needs no passport — it is the purest dialogue between cultures.”

Dr. Renu Shahi’s series served not just as paintings, but as philosophical experiences — introducing Sri Lankan viewers to the timeless teachings of Indian scriptures, not through sermons, but through strokes of color, layers of thought, and a visual silence that speaks louder than words.