New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- There is a quiet gravitas to the works on display across the two floors of Art Alive Gallery in Delhi. Each watercolour, be it landscape, portrait or self-study, features an interplay of light, shadow and colour. Artist Shibu Natesan, 59, deftly works with these elements to imbue every painting with a unique atmosphere. The painter's gaze seems to be akin to that of a photographer's. The paintings are nearly photorealistic, conveying the feel of the environment, the personality of the subject and the essence of the landscape to the viewer.

Yet, the watercolours are not mere faithful reproductions of the people or scenes that Natesan might have come across during his travels. They are not just about freezing time. He ...