A chance meeting with Indian author and artist Harish Johari changed the course of Dutch painter Pieter Weltevrede’s life. The painter is in the city to showcase a series of 50 paintings inspired by Hindu mythology.
A chance meeting with Indian author and artist Harish Johari changed the course of Dutch painter Pieter Weltevrede’s life. “It was the year 1977 and I became fascinated with the healing power of the ancient practice of yantra painting,” said Weltevrede, who devoted his time to mastering the North Indian iconographic painting technique under Johari’s tutelage.
The painter is currently in Mumbai to showcase a series of 50 paintings inspired by Hindu mythology. “Guruji wanted these paintings to come to India where they really belong and I am here today to fulfil his desire,” said Weltevrede.
The series, titled ‘Birth of the Ganga’, was painted over two years in Holland and have been brought to Mumbai for an exhibition at Indigo in Colaba from where they will travel to Hrishikesh.
Weltevrede is being helped in his mission by Marijke A Van Drunen Littel, the consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Anoopama Mukherjee, managing partner of a city-based event management company called ‘The Great Indian Showwallahs’.
“The Netherlands embassy has been supporting the Save Ganga Project for the last 20 years. Their commitment has led to the launch of the Har Har Gangye Campaign that would help build a museum at Hrishikesh for these Ganga series paintings,” said Mukherjee, adding that Weltevrede was donating the paintings to India since his guru would never have liked them to be sold. The paintings are estimated to cost anywhere between Rs8 crore and Rs9 crore.
The Har Har Gangye Campaign seeks to raise awareness about ecological issues in the country. “We are facing an environment crisis and the need of the hour is to make fellow countrymen aware and proud of our natural resources and heritage,” added Mukherjee.
She feels that each of us can do our bit for the environment. “Even if we cannot contribute directly, we can contribute in our own way by pledging to not pollute the Mithi river or throw garbage in the Arabian Sea.”
Weltevrede points out that the Ganga embodies not just the ancient philosophy of India but is also a World Natural Heritage. “India is the harbinger of a philosophy that teaches the world a life in active co-existence with Mother Nature. Hindu texts and scriptures speak extensively of environment values and preservation,” said the painter.
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