"Landscapes of the Soul" An Exhibition of Paintings by JESAL DALAL / HEMALI SHAH at Nehru Center Art Gallery

If you’re in Mumbai between April 22 and 28, make some time to step into a space that offers more than just art on walls. Landscapes of the Soul, a two-woman show by artists Jesal Dalal and Hemali Shah, is opening at the Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Worli, and it promises to be an experience of quiet beauty and deep reflection This isn’t your typical art exhibition. Jesal and Hemali, though very different in style, come together with a shared intent: to express the unspoken — those silent emotions, fleeting thoughts, and inner landscapes we all carry but often can’t describe. Their work doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, it gently pulls you in.

JESAL DALAL

Jesal’s art feels like a breath of fresh air — or more accurately, like standing alone in a wide open space, surrounded by nature, and finally hearing yourself think. Using watercolours as her main medium, she leans into subtle hues, soft brushwork, and the play of light. Her paintings don’t just show you a scene; they ask you to feel it. Interestingly, Jesal didn’t start out as an Artist. 

She dabbled in architecture and interior design before discovering that painting was her real calling. Mostly self-taught, her artistic path has taken her across India and even to international exhibitions. Whether it’s the way she uses chiaroscuro for emotional depth or the way she lets form dissolve into the atmosphere, her work speaks of introspection and the search for peace.Her paintings are not about specific places. They’re about states of mind.

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HEMALI SHAH

Hemali’s journey with art began with Disney cartoons, but today, she’s painting nature through a lens of realism touched by emotion. Her background in Fine Arts, especially her time at C. N. Vidyalaya, gave her the foundation to grow, but it’s her connection to the natural world that fuels her creativity. Working primarily in watercolours, Hemali blends technical skill with a personal colour palette that’s uniquely hers. Her pieces often reflect the way she sees the world — not just what’s there, but what it means. There’s something deeply grounded in her work, yet you can feel her heart in every brushstroke. For her, painting is more than a craft. It’s a way of life, a perspective shift, and a means of becoming more aware and compassionate.

Landscapes of the Soul is about more than showcasing art — it’s about creating a space for emotion, reflection, and connection. Jesal and Hemali don’t just paint what they see; they paint what they feel, and in doing so, they give us permission to feel too. Whether you’re an art lover, a creative soul, or someone who simply needs a break from the city’s noise, this exhibition offers something rare — silence, softness, and space to just be.

The show will be inaugurated by two renowned artists, Amol Pawar and Nishikant Palande, on April 22 at 4 PM, and runs through April 28, open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM.

Press Release

22 - 28 April 2025

"Landscapes of the Soul"

An Exhibition of Paintings by JESAL DALAL, HEMALI SHAH

VENUE:

Nehru Center Art Gallery

Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 4000018

Timing: 11am to 7pm

Contact: +91 99250 36131 / +91 96628 36342