Dr Aruna Narlikar is a self-taught artist, who has exhibited her paintings in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Latin America, Europe, and Asia. She has followed an original and innovative approach to develop her unique style. Her paintings cover a variety of themes ranging from her renowned images of her inspiration, Ganesha, to quasi-abstract works representing ancient monuments, to figurative works depicting the fast-fading beauty of village life in India. All these works are united by an attention to details of movement and stillness, and especially in the case of her oil-paintings, a glossy effect in light relief leaves a haunting memory.
Dr Narlikar has also been writing for national daily newspapers and magazines in English, as well as for the vernacular press. These publications have taken the shape of invited columns, feature-length articles, art reviews, travelogues, and poetry. Her longstanding involvement with literary activities and publications goes back to her academic qualifications (she has a PhD in English literature). Her knowledge, training, and experience in language have also led her to work in the area of translation for the National Sahitya Akademi.
Dr Narlikar’s experience in journalism is not limited to the print media; she has extensive anchoring experience in programs on art, culture, education, and women’s issues on national TV. Most of these programs were productions of the prestigious national Door Darshan network.
These multiple channels of expression of her art find inspiration in her academic training as well as her travels worldwide. She enjoys traveling within India and abroad, and particularly relishes the opportunity to study and understand new and diverse cultures at close hand.
Besides writing and painting, she designs jewellery. She has a senior diploma in Yoga, and also advanced training in Kathak and Bharatanatyam.
Some comments by art critics :
"The paintings of Aruna Narlikar are done with oil mixed with paste to yield relief effect and she uses the knife, the brush and often a nail to get grooved textures... Here she has been able to add to iconographic repertoire that is already very rich... The icon here seems to be built up with massive boulders and the impact is monumental in spite of the small size." -- Krishna Chaitanya in "The Hindustan Times"
"Aruna Narlikar is a multi-dimensional person who is a journalist, a TV anchor and a gifted artist... the most striking feature was a new technique she seems to have evolved that highlights the work as though it was done on enamel... She has special ability to use shadings and a great gift for evoking emotions as a response to the form that she depicts." --Anurag Mathur in "The Times Of India"
