New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS): "Nature is inextricably linked to humans" is the core message of artist Mala Marwah's works, which opened for public viewing on Wednesday in a group exhibition titled "Terrain" at the India International Centre (IIC).

Former Assistant Editor of Lalit Kala Akademi, 1948-born Marwah believes that the deep influence of simple-looking natural objects and landscapes is enough for her art to be inspired by "kudrat" (nature).

The Delhi-based artist's vibrant interpretations of lush forests, along with other works, are something to behold. Her co-exhibitors, Sujata Singh and Suddhasattwa Basu, too have put their artistic interpretations of terrain on display.

Basu said that a gallerist friend had come to him with the photographs of some "exotic" flowers as reference pictures for his art.

"I wanted to tell him that I must live my subject. I must befriend each flowering plant, irrespective of its social status, meet them in rain and sunshine, feel excited to see them come to life in a garden, on a vacant plot or peeping through the cracks of tiled pavements, unnoticed. It takes months and years before I feel like painting them," Basu said.

Singh's images, on the other hand, are connected to nature through an emotive depiction of trees, flowers, birds and leaves combined with fragments of sculpture, architecture and human form.

Terrain offers mediums like watercolour, ink, pastel, pencil, mixed media and acrylic paint. The artists' subjects relate to nature in its broadest sense, from the botanically inspired to the metaphorical interpretations.

The exhibition is open for public viewing till March 8. The entry is free.