Tropical Delights: Flora and Fauna
Tropical Delights: Flora and Fauna
Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET): Café Arts
Nov. 5, 2009 – Jan. 31, 2010
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) presents Tropical Delights: Flora and Fauna, a collection of 20 paintings by San Antonio artist and psychiatrist Shyamala Rao, on view in Café Arts Nov. 5, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010.
People and animals have always been sources of inspiration, joy and wonder for Rao. Tropical Delights is divided into two groups of paintings: flora and fauna. The flora paintings include Rao’s exploration of the hibiscus flower in different hues. The faunas are studies of tigers: Bengal, Siberian and Sumatran. This exhibition is a follow-up to the Serengeti Series that Rao exhibited at the Art Studio in Beaumont in December 2008. The Serengeti Series was prompted by the artist’s transforming experience during an African safari in the summer of 2007.
As a psychiatrist who practices in San Antonio, Rao’s professional life exists in a world where thoughts, feelings and perceptions are expressed in words. The realm of painting is a natural segue for this artist. In this medium, she moves into a space where the same gamut of emotions and cognitions are expressed not in words, but in form, line, tone and hue. The depiction of the range of human emotions is a passion with Rao in her profession, as are the depictions of the behaviors and emotions of animals in her artwork.
“The works in this café exhibit are interesting to examine when paralleled with the work that Shyamala Rao performs on a day to day basis in her professional life as a psychiatrist,” said AMSET Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Sarah Hamilton.
Tropical Delights: Flora and Fauna is open for viewing during regular museum hours.
Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET)