Olivia Fraser's India in Miniature

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Olivia Fraser's Indian miniatures draw inspiration from the company style popularised by her great, great grand uncle James Baillie Fraser in the early part of the 19th century, with a modern touch.

''My subject has always been India. I draw only India as it is fascinating,'' Olivia said at the opening of an exhibition of her works at the Triveni Kala Sangam here last evening.

The exhibition is an amalgamation of all that one gets to see in various parts of India like the Rajputs of Rajasthan, milkman, the India Gate and other buildings of Lutyen's Delhi. It even includes a Delhi panorama with Gods of different religions, seated in separate flying chariots, showering flower petals.

''I love images of Gods. In India they are everywhere, in calendars, on the streets. People here feel blessed. You can see children dressed as Gods. It is just so inspiring,'' she said.

The artist from Britain is the wife of internationally acclaimed writer and historian William Dalrymple, the author of the ''City of Djinns'' and "The Last Mughal" among others.

Her paintings, like those of her illustrious ancestor, are intricate, detailed water colours or pen on paper sketches.

Though her work seems close to reality, she quite often adds a dash of fantasy to most of her paintings.

'' On a closer look, you would notice an element of fantasy in the work. I have painted Rashtrapati Bhavan in pink and a hue of green, when it is actually not like that. I just imagine how things would come out on paper and add splash of colours to it. That is fantasy,'' Olivia said.

She also confesses that each of her work is an original since she never paints a copy.

Her paintings, selling in the range of Rs 25,000 to two lakh, depicts a variety of subjects including Gujjars of Rajasthan, stone sculptors of Karnataka and toy makers of Orissa.

'' I travel a lot with William. I got a chance to know Delhi better while William was writing the City of Djinns,'' She said.

The exhibition is on for public viewing till March 27.

UNI