Madhuri Bhaduri – Life Through The Canvas And Beyond

Madhuri Bhaduri

 

“To be successful in art is not something that we plan for. It only happens because we become the medium of the work,” says Madhuri Bhaduri, a national level badminton and squash champion turned proficient artist who is currently a proud owner of her art studio, STUDIO-M in Pune.

Madhuri Bhaduri

Shuttling between badminton courts, Madhuri found her undying love for art. With a family of sports enthusiasts, Madhuri never imagined her life as a talented artist who would travel around the world and be known worldwide thanks to her work on canvas and beyond..

Although she has been painting since childhood, her journey as a professional artist began in 1977 when she started painting for friends and family.

“I started painting in 1977, exactly 40 years ago. At that point, I painted for my family or anyone who requested me to do so and started selling my art works from home. In 1978 I completed my BA Honours and ten years later, my Masters in Arts from SNDT University.

Her creations at Studio-M

“My family was into sports. My mother was a classical singer. She was an ‘A’ grade singer for 50 years on All India Radio. Right from her childhood, she was singing,” she says.

Madhuri believes that she is a child of destiny. At various stages life gave her indications and made her a person that she is today.

“I always feel that one should know their potential. The day you feel that you have done the best you could, you can give up and this happened to me. When I was preparing for the nationals, at some point I felt, I wasn’t improving. My growth was stagnant. It was then that I realised that sports is not working for me now.

Painting from her ‘Reflection’ series

“In the 80’s while I started my badminton training, playing squash and coaching, I continued doing my art. My first show was in 1986 at Bal Gandharva Art Gallery where I sold 45 of my art pieces out of the 60 in just three days. Since then I dedicated most of my time to painting,” she adds.

She was awarded by Women’s Economic Forum (WEF 2016) as an Iconic Leader in the field of Art, Design and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Sarojini Naidu National award for women in June 2016, Achiever’s Award in the field of Art: Savvy-Magna Publications, Delhi (2016) just to name a few.

An accomplished painter, artist, sculptor and more, her art is not confined to canvas. Her oil on canvas carries the reflection series showcasing her exploration of using rain and water, idealistic compositions of landscapes, aspects of life in the city and much more.

After dedicating a majority of her career to her favourite medium – oil on canvas, in 2002 she took to sculpting and creating “assemblages” using metal scrap.

From personalised furniture, cushions, metal sculpture, standalone fibre cast sculptures, table lamps and decorative items made of reused plastic bottles, tissue holders, cassette and cassette covers, to chandeliers from protein tins, coffee tables, table mats and much much more..

Ganpati Bappa made out of reused materials

Her latest addition is the Ganesha series where she created different forms of the Elephant God all made of metal and scrap collected from scrap yards.

Madhuri has also been felicitated at several national and international forums for her abstract, figurative and inimitable contribution to this industry.

“I think my multi-faceted personality has helped me to do something different every time. I believe sports has also taught me to face life as it comes.

I have always been positive which is amply emulated in my artistic creations,” adds Madhuri.

Loveleen Kaur