Pooja Bajaj is hosting a show at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery from tomorrow, March 17th to spread the awareness about wildlife. Seven artists will be displaying their work.

Excerpts from the interview:

When did you first realise that Wildlife is your passion?

It all started with my late husband Anant’s love for wildlife & Nature. Post marriage, we used to travel widely to wildlife sanctuaries & nature parks. He was the one who introduced me to wildlife & this became my own passion as my very first show was around this theme of wiflife. I enjoyed painting the elephants and tigers and the abstract raw beauty of nature.

Corporate to Art -- is this a huge shift or an organic transition?

My artistic journey began during the Covid time when my first solo show titled “Unleashed – Defining the Abstract” was showcased in the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. Art was a part of my life then & continued in all my endeavours of Corporate CRS work and now as a Director of KBAG. From managing creatives to supporting upcoming and budding artist, self-expression through painting and now managing the gallery, all came naturally to me as Art was always in a therapeutic and got me immance peace through creative expression.

What were the parameters you used to select the exhibited artists and their work?

The primary objective was to first support emerging-budding, and mid-career artists and help them showcase their work and provide a platform. Having said that we looked for astists who showcase their love for art through creative expression and who paint wildlife and not just create pieces for this show.. We sought artworks that not only reflected the artists' love for wildlife but also showcased their technical skill and precision that looks as close as to the natural wild world.

We had over 15 submissions, which we selected that showcased good skill and prioritizing those that explained exceptional creativity, technique, and emotional resonance. Ultimately our goal was to curate an exhibition that would inspire, educate, and delight audiences, while providing a platform to budding talented artists who can showcase their work."

Do you think one exhibition in a year and a Wildlife Day is enough to educate people about the importance of Wildlife? What else can we do?

Every drop makes an ocean and with that vision in mild we organised our first exhibition on wildlife in collaboration with Sanctuary Nature Foundation titled Wild India - A Conservation Photography Exhibition in Dec’2. That exhibition aimed to spread awareness about wildlife conservation through award winning photographs of Sanctuary over the past 3 years. We organised interactive talks and students vist to help spread the message for wildlife conservation.

In continuation with our vision this show not only provides a platform to budding artist but also showcases a platform where art can be used as a platform for expression, a dynamic tool for creating awareness.

Besides supporting exhibitions, other endeadours around wildlife can be showcased with public murals, installations & interactive exhibits that can bridge the gap in spreading awareness, helps to break down barriers & promote local creativity…

What are your future plans for the gallery? How do you plan to choose the work and propel it to a different level?

Our main objective of the gallery is to support emerging, budding, and mid-career artists to showcase their work & we want to act as a platform for not only showing art but also help these artists realise their dreams.

We do plan to curate few more shows with interesting themes and display many mediums and unique expressions.

We want to explore not only creative arts but also other forms and for this we want to engage with other curators to help us in this journey. Our aim is to not only support local and emerging artists but also aim to contribute to the growth and development of the art ecosystem, while inspiring a new generation of creatives."