Preetkriti by Pratibha
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Pratibha Madan is a contemporary artist born in Northern India. She moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016, where she currently lives and works.
Pratibha is particularly interested in traditional art forms from all over India. Begin exploring:
2016
The year Pratibha first moved to Melbourne. Her works were heavily inspired by India's rich culture and heritage. She continued creating in the traditional figurative style she was practising in India.
2017
The year of experimentation. Pratibha perfected the nuances of acrylic fluid art and produced works that combined the figurative art style with abstract flow art.
This body of work evolved into Pratibha's first solo exhibition - Confluence.
2018
The binary year. Continuing with the fusion experiments, Pratibha's second solo - A Brush With Nature - brought together the fine art and flow art styles. The native flora and fauna of Victoria inspired the subjects for this series.
Alongside fusion, Pratibha found herself gravitating towards Indian folk art. She created Rejoice - a special collection displayed at public libraries in Melbourne - to introduce the traditional Madhubani style from Mithila, India to a wider audience.
2019
The year of exploration. Pratibha challenged herself to the 100 Day Project - a creative endeavour with thousands of people all around the world, committing to one hundred consecutive days of exploring their creativity. She chose a theme that was close to her heart - flowers - and found motivation in exploring techniques and mediums she had never used before.
All 100 works eventually became part of Pratibha's third solo exhibition - Floriana.
As her style evolved, Pratibha continued deeper into Madhubani. From the Kachni variation (which focuses on lined renditions) she ventured into Bharni (which uses solid, vibrant colours to fill space).
She created the Kalpvriksha series in this style, which revolved around the Tree Of Life - the revered wish-fulfilling divine tree.
2020
The year of lockdown. When the realities of this year brought Indian folk artists online, Pratibha found a wonderful opportunity to connect with their experiences firsthand, and listen to their stories.
She found time to develop her folk art portfolio - in the Madhubani, Gond, and Warli styles - by furthering her understanding of the evolving perspectives on these artforms.
"I find myself continually drawn to the intricacies of Indian folk art. I love learning about the history of these traditional art and craft forms, and solidifying cultural ties."
Exhibitions
In her five years living in Melbourne so far, Pratibha's works have been exhibited in 3 Solo Exhibitions. She is constantly exposed to the local art scene, and absolutely loves being a part of the artist community.
She has also been a part of Creative Spaces Exhibition Program, and numerous other group art exhibitions in Melbourne. Pratibha also routinely exhibits at the Camberwell, Mount View, Mornington, and Whitehorse Art Shows.
Community
In the Media
Pratibha was invited for a radio interview with SBS Punjabi to talk about her first solo art exhibition - Confluence. Her solo exhibitions have also featured in local newspapers.
About Pratibha
A mum of two, Pratibha is trained as an occupational therapist and worked with people with developmental disabilities for over 15 years in India.
First inspired by her grandfather, who was an art teacher in her hometown, art has always been at the back of Pratibha's mind as a form of expression that continues to enrich her - both as an individual and as an artist.
Pratibha's second art revelation came from interacting with countless handicraft artists in Dilli Haat - an open-air crafts bazaar located in the heart of New Delhi, India.
"I'd go there every other weekend. [Here] I understood and learnt many of the techniques and skills of painting and artistic expression."
Pratibha continues to immerse herself deeper into Indian artistic heritage, and hopes to inspire fellow art enthusiasts by increasing the reach of traditional folk art in the Australian community.
Exhibitions
In her seven years living in Melbourne so far, Pratibha's works have been exhibited in 3 Solo Exhibitions. She is constantly exposed to the local art scene, and absolutely loves being a part of the artist community.
She has also been a part of Creative Spaces Exhibition Program, and numerous other group art exhibitions in Melbourne. Pratibha also routinely exhibits at the Camberwell, Mount View, Mornington, and Whitehorse Art Shows.
Confluence
A Brush With Nature
Rejoice
Floriana
smART 2024
Submissions for smART 2024 Exhibition are closed now
smART is an annual exhibition of small works in any medium and style, organised by Preetkriti. The idea behind smART is to challenge oneself to bring about your creative best in a small format. It is a wonderful platform for artists of all ages and levels!
Click here to see highlights from smART 2019, 2020, 2021,
2022, and 2023
smART 2023
In 2023, smART showcased 135 diverse artworks by 60 artists, spanning from local communities to Sydney and Canberra. The exhibit embraced ages from 9 to an impressive 103 years, illustrating a wide spectrum of artistic expression and inclusivity.
smART 2022
In 2022, smART presented over 92 works by 32 artists from the community. The exhibition this year was well received by artists and art enthusiasts!
smART 2021
In 2021, smART presented over 135 works by 45 artists from the community. The participants this year ranged from schoolchildren from the City of Monash, to regional artists all the way from Echuca. Aileen Brooks, a Monash resident, who celebrated her 101st birthday in April, was also one of the participants!
smART 2020
In 2020, smART grew to present over 125 works by 40+ artists from the community, and continues to be a great opportunity for all participants to showcase their brilliant talents!
smART 2019
In its inaugural year, smART presented 70+ artworks by more than 20 local artists, and became a vibrant meeting ground for first-timers and professional artists alike.
