Experimental Works Inspired by Nature
“And into the forest I go….to lose my mind and find my soul”
Dere’s most recent body of work turns to a Forest Series built from real, layered natural materials — pressed leaves, organic textures and found matter, worked directly into the picture surface alongside paint and mixed media. Conceived as a reminder of humanity’s relationship with nature, these compositions create surfaces that feel, in her words, “alive with memory, renewal and growth” — a natural extension of the ecological and spiritual sensibility that has run through her work since the lotus paintings of her early career.
She has also developed botanical works on calico and paper, where no paint or chemicals are used. Leaves and ferns from the forest floor are bundled and steamed, leaving their imprints – partly as I arranged them and partly with a will of their own. Adding to the final outcome.
In Sujata’s words…“ To me forests symbolise the harmony of nature, the beauty of impermanence and the resilience of life. By blending traditional painting techniques with these natural materials, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world and our place in it.”
