The exhibition titled 'Haveli Collection: Celebrating Femininity Through Art' is being held at the Four Seasons Hotel at Embassy One in Bengaluru. This exposition presents a thematic journey that translates the changing colors and seasons of life onto canvas through the works of artist Mina Das Narayan. She examines the similarity between the cyclical changes in nature and the various stages of a woman's life.
Art and design can help hotels resonate with local and international creative communities. As shown in this photo essay, landscape design, commissioned installations, and curated exhibitions can elevate the experience and storytelling to a new level. The monsoon rains add a new charm to the hotel's courtyards and gardens, serving as an additional relevant metaphor for the current exhibition.
The narrative of the exhibition deeply resonates and transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. Some artworks featured in this exhibition at the luxury hotel also appear in the photo essay, and the hotel showcases original works by over 25 contemporary Indian artists.
Bishwajeet Chakraborty, General Manager of Four Seasons Bengaluru, noted: 'At Four Seasons Bengaluru, we believe that art has the power to create meaningful connections and offer a space for reflection and discovery. Mina Das Narayan's exhibition celebrates the many chapters, emotions, seasons, and experiences that shape a woman's life.'
The artist explains the symbolism of colors: green of spring represents youth, yellow represents the maturity of summer, blue shades of the monsoon reflect a woman's journey toward starting her own family, and red of autumn conveys a sense of achievement and introspection.
Narayan shares her vision: 'When a viewer looks at one of these paintings and recognizes a stage of their own life in the texture, color, or pose, a bridge of empathy is built. Art becomes a shared dialogue. Thus, the collection invites every woman to feel seen, acknowledged, and deeply connected to the collective spirit of femininity.'
Mina Das Narayan was born in Delhi, studied in Pune, and then moved to Baghdad at the age of thirteen when her father was assigned there as an irrigation expert. She told YourStory that despite much reading about the wars in Iraq, the locals were very kind and hospitable.
She added that her travel experiences made her much more open to the world, as she gained exposure to diverse cultures at university. Her writing and artistic endeavors began after returning to Delhi and getting married. They later moved to Dubai, where she worked in the newspaper and magazine industry before establishing her own elite magazine.
Narayan prefers oil painting due to the depth it allows her to achieve, and she also enjoys watercolor. The idea for the series of paintings in a haveli or townhouse came from a friend's advice. She notes that she has many canvases at home at different stages of completion, and she finishes a piece when she feels inspired. Currently, 10 paintings are displayed in the series; the rest have already been sold. She emphasizes that she prefers to paint what she likes, not what others dictate.
She believes that commercially sold art often suits home and office interiors, while other art brings beauty and originality and can be considered an investment. Narayan opines that the online format has drawbacks regarding the appraisal and sale of art, noting that photographs of artwork online do not convey the full essence of the creation.
Besides painting, Narayan writes books about her uncle and great-grandfather who achieved success in the cultural sphere. She runs a YouTube channel with commentary and analysis, and she co-founded the Bangalore Club for Kathakali and the Arts (BCKA). She has also directed and produced mythological operas with Sanskrit songs and music appealing to youth. Her next project will be her second cultural film dedicated to traditional theatrical art and the dance drama Yakshagana from the coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala.
Regarding the decision to sell or keep a painting, Narayan says that her paintings are her children, and she likes to see them. However, she is also happy when they find a home where they are appreciated. She believes it is important to move forward in art and in life, knowing when to end connections, even in life when children or a mother pass away. She returned to India from Dubai to care for her 91-year-old mother, who was left unattended. She finds satisfaction in caring for her and seeing her smile.
Narayan also states that she does not strive for excessive wealth, as too much money can lead to burden and less happiness, even if it creates a lifestyle of constant travel. Previously, she curated exhibitions at Leela Palace in Bengaluru, and last year she organized the 'Threads of Tradition' exhibition at Four Seasons featuring works by seven artists, including Krishna Shetty CS, V Hariraam, Paresh Hazra, Shraddha Rathi, Ganesh Doddamani, and SG Vasudev. These artists presented abstract works, scenes from daily life, folk themes, identity, and a blend of traditional and modern lifestyles.
Warning aspiring artists, Narayan advises that earning a living solely from art can be difficult, and another job may be required for support, which allows one to pursue a passion without constraints from other artists. She concludes that from an early age, she hated being told what to do and did not want to listen to others because listening to others shapes a person according to others' tastes, even if those others are their own parents.
