Eva’s journey of discovery through art

Eva from Citadines starts each painting with a childlike curiosity. She has no plan in mind. It’s as much a mystery to her what will show up on her canvas as to anybody else. Eva says, “I put colour on paper, cut it out and place it on a canvas. Then, I play around with it until it pulls me in a certain direction. Something emerges and when I look at it later, I recognise what it wants to express.”

An exhibition of Eva’s work was held at Citadine’s  Galerie d’Arts from October 8 to 23, 2021. She combines painting with collage. As you enter the gallery, you feel the beauty, innocence, wonder and a certain symmetry of her charming artwork. It is bright and colourful, yet also soothing. 

On being asked if the paintings are for sale, Eva says she does not sell her paintings. Instead, she likes to give them away to those who feel a connection to a particular painting. If later they would like to change it, they can bring it back, eventually take another one and Eva will reuse the returned one.

Eva  did not learn art formally. She experimented first with painting when she was nearly 50. It happened when her partner was away in France for many months and Eva was alone at home.  “At first,” she says, “I started painting with acrylic and oil paint. 

Eva’s art went through many phases of development. At one stage she used a lot materials which she salvaged from various workshops in Auroville, like wire, wood, French plaster etc. She says, “My work was like a sculpture on canvas at that time.” 

Finally about 10 years ago she started colored paper collage on canvas and still enjoys it. In fact it is a discovery at every step.