Mt. Laurel resident Indira Servaia sees the township library as a hub for music, dance, art and culture, or, in other words, the perfect place to exhibit her culturally rich and lively paintings.
A native of India, Servaia immigrated to the United States in 2005 to be with her husband, a longtime resident of the town.
“Since I live in Mt. Laurel, I knew it would be a good contribution to the community if I put my paintings on display at the library,” Servaia said.
There is no fee to view her paintings, and they are all available for purchase, with prices ranging from $65 to $200.
The paintings will be on display now through Saturday, June 30.
“My focus is use a portrait to open the door to a new and intriguing story, whether it’s a story of human nature or a story of flowers in a vase. Many hidden stories reside in these subjects … and I reveal all these stories through the combination of vibrant colors,” she said. “I am going to use the term portrait here because in my paintings I try to draw so much of the subject’s personality that a viewer is seeing much more than a rendition of shapes.”
When deciding on a subject for a painting, she said she senses “the deep life impressions of that subject.”
Colors whirl around them that tell the unique story of the object or person, she said.
“I know when there is a story that others would like to know,” she explained.
She hopes people will sense that story when they peer at her portraits, she said. The bright colors helps to accelerate the communication process with the viewer.
“My intent is for the colors in my paintings awaken the viewer’s sensitivity to those same pulses and rhythms that I sensed,” she said. “That is how the viewer will come to know the story revealed by the portrait.”
The exhibit at the library focuses on still-life paintings, but she most enjoys painting women portraits.
“I am better known for my portraits of women, where I like to emphasize how the person’s inner strengths support the expression of different emotions and personalities,” she said. “My desire is to portray the inner strengths of a woman, all whispered through the story-telling vibrations of colors, which enhance the implied dynamism in the body’s positions and expressions on the face.
“I also love to bring out the natural stories of life contained within a still life or landscape.”
She is a homemaker by trade, but painting is a second job for her, she explained, and helps to connect her with the community at large.
“I like travel, reading, museums, movies, and sports, but most of all, I enjoy meeting friends and family,” she said.
She, with her husband, travel throughout the United States, to Europe and to India, she said.
Her art has been exhibited in galleries in her homeland, throughout New Jersey, in Philadelphia, and in multiple communities down the shore, she said.
According to a release from the Mt. Laurel Library, “To explain the striking style of Indira Servaia’s colors and strokes, one could look to the global span of the multiple cultures from which she draws.
“Primarily a self-taught, inner-directed artist, she also has studied art in India and in the United States with artists of diverse styles and techniques. Much of her style is inspired by the French Fauvist paintings,” it continues.
Members of the community will be able to meet Servaia at the library on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m. at a special “Meet the Artist” event.
Light refreshments will be served.
To speak with Servaia about her paintings or to purchase one or more, contact her by email at iservaia@yahoo.co.uk or by phone at (856) 722–1982.
The library is located at 100 Walt Whitman Ave. Call them for more information about the exhibit at (856) 234–7319 ext. 333 or visit their website at www.mtlaurel.lib.nj.us.
“Reading always leads me to new stories that expand my views of life,” Servaia said. “The library provides really great resources to the community for learning so much more about art.”
