“Shadow: Gateway of Spirituality” is an exhibition of paintings at Plainsboro Recreation and Cultural Center Art Gallery by Shurwin Selv, a young artist visiting from India. Born in 2001, he has received more than 50 accolades at district, state, and national painting competitions, and has exhibited in both group and solo shows. The exhibit is on view through Monday, June 15.
Selv began painting when he was five and is the first painter in his family. “The journey has continued ever since for more than eight years,” he says. His parents are owners of Nam Jewelers, a wholesale gold distribution business in Coimbatore, India. They are with him on the family vacation.
Selv, visiting the United States for the first time, is enjoying a family reunion with his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Plainsboro. He had not seen his uncle and aunt in seven years.
“My early life experiences with bountiful nature in my home town inspired my paintings,” he says. “These artworks chronicle my emotional journey, culminating in hope that if one can control the mind, then one can find the natural way to enlightenment, wisdom, and virtue.”
In 2013 he exhibited his Village Life series in Chennai, India. “After a lot of handwork, grit, and determination for more than two years, while simultaneously managing and often excelling my school demands and extra-curricular demands, I am excited to present this Buddha Shadow series to everyone.”
The paintings are a contemporary representation of the classic theme focusing on the Buddha. “Buddha is a vivid representation of enlightenment and tranquility, and I decided that I would start my new series to reflect the virtues behind nature’s serenity,” says Selv. “I made paintings of different representations of the Buddha — in real life and in nature.”
His painting, “The Invisible Buddha,” is about a grove of trees that forms the outline of the Buddha. “Another of my paintings shows a larger-than-life sculpture of the Buddha, presumably from an ancient shrine,” he says. “Though both were formed in different ways, they still represent the same idea.”
His aunt, Raji Gopi, and uncle, Venkat Gopi, are the co-founders of Supra Nimbus Corporation, a cloud -based big data analytics solution for the healthcare industry. They have lived in Plainsboro since 2005.
His cousins are Gayathree Gopi, 13, a seventh grade student at Community Middle School; and Vishnuu Gopi. 11, a fifth grade student at Millstone River School. “Both my cousins are very talented in extracurricular activities and academics and have been winning regional and national level competitions in spelling, math, and geography conducted by NorthSouth Foundation in Princeton,” he says. His cousins attended Montessori Corner School at Princeton Meadows when they were younger.
His artist statement follows:
“I am greatly inspired by feminine beauty and the presence of spirit or soul found within a gaze. My intention is to create this in all of the work that I produce. I like acrylic because it allows me to easily make any changes that jump into my mind during work. Watercolors are transparent, sensitive, and challenging.
“My art making is generally a process of going to a silent place and waiting to see what emerges into my conscious awareness. But sometimes I set out with an idea or what I want to create but I find that when I employ the former process it leaves me with a deeper sense of satisfaction and a realization of something about myself and my environment, it is like the art is telling me a story or a parable.”
Art Exhibit, Plainsboro Recreation and Cultural Center, 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro. “Shadow: Gateway of Spirituality,” a solo exhibit of paintings by Shurwin Selv. On view to Monday, June 15. 609-799-0909. www.plainsboronj.com.
