KYNKYNY Art Gallery in Mumbai will present “It Will Rain Again When We Meet,” a solo exhibition by Hyderabad-based artist Priyanka Aelay from 9 September to 6 October. The exhibition brings together a new body of paintings centred on forests, folklore, ecology, and visual storytelling. Hosted at the gallery’s recently opened Mumbai space in Kala Ghoda, the exhibition offers viewers immersive landscapes where flora, fauna, and mythological references coexist within richly layered compositions.
A Forest Imagined Through Art
Forests occupy a central place in Aelay’s latest works. Her paintings depict expansive terrains filled with dense vegetation, birds, tigers, foxes, and other creatures that emerge from luminous foliage. Working with layered acrylic pigments on linen canvas, she creates environments that move between observation and imagination. The paintings blur distinctions between reality and fantasy, presenting landscapes that feel at once familiar and dreamlike.
Folklore and Visual Storytelling
The exhibition reflects Aelay’s ongoing engagement with film studies and visual culture, fields in which she has also pursued academic research. Her recent work draws inspiration from folklore traditions, particularly narratives that unfold within forests and wilderness. Stories such as Baalanagamma influenced the development of the series, prompting explorations of time, survival, and human relationships with nature.
Several large-scale circular works featured in the exhibition reference moon cycles and natural rhythms. These compositions challenge conventional ways of viewing landscapes while introducing themes connected to feminine symbolism and cyclical time.
Interconnected Ecosystems
A recurring aspect of Aelay’s work is the dissolution of boundaries between different natural environments. In her paintings, ferns may resemble corals, waterways become skies, and terrestrial and aquatic forms merge into one another. The visual language suggests ecological interdependence and coexistence rather than separation.
Animals appear throughout the works either alone or in groups, acting as symbolic stand-ins for human presence. Through these motifs, the artist constructs contemplative spaces that encourage viewers to consider relationships between living beings and their environments.
Artistic Practice and Background
Born in Hyderabad in 1990, Priyanka Aelay is known for paintings that combine contemporary art practices with influences from Telangana’s folk traditions and Indian miniature painting. She completed her Master of Fine Arts at Hyderabad Central University and later earned a doctorate in Film Studies and Visual Culture from the English and Foreign Languages University. Her work has been exhibited in India and internationally, and she has participated in artist residencies including programmes in Bordeaux, France, and New Delhi.
Her paintings are recognised for their intricate depictions of flora and fauna, vibrant colour palettes, and non-linear spatial arrangements that invite viewers into immersive visual worlds.
Exhibition Highlights
- New paintings inspired by forests, folklore, and mythology
- Large-scale circular canvases exploring moon cycles and natural rhythms
- Acrylic works on linen canvas featuring interconnected ecosystems
- Visual references to Telangana folk traditions and Indian miniature painting
- Themes of coexistence, ecology, and contemplative observation
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | It Will Rain Again When We Meet |
| Artist | Priyanka Aelay |
| Venue | KYNKYNY Art Gallery |
| City | Mumbai |
| Opening Date | 9 September |
| Exhibition Dates | 9 September – 6 October |
| Organiser | KYNKYNY Art Gallery |
Visitors can find additional information through KYNKYNY Art Gallery, follow updates on KYNKYNY Instagram, or learn more about Priyanka Aelay’s practice.
Takeaway
With “It Will Rain Again When We Meet,” Priyanka Aelay continues her exploration of nature, folklore, and imagination through intricate contemporary painting. By bringing together mythic narratives and ecological themes, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on interconnected forms of life and the cultural stories that shape our understanding of the natural world. Presented at KYNKYNY’s new Mumbai space, the exhibition contributes to ongoing conversations around landscape, memory, and environmental awareness in contemporary Indian art.
