York artist captures Bollywood glamour in photos

Atyia Police
Contributor
York fine arts student and writer Annandi Merhai’s newest exhibition, “Bollywood – Images and Themes,” is a colourful and vibrant show expressing her love of her culture.
The exhibit showcases an exquisite array of pieces, ranging from unique paintings to complex and creative photos, in Accolade West’s Gales Gallery.
Merhai is no novice when it comes to presenting her work. Her artistic experience here in Toronto is vast, with various pieces on display at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, the Toronto Harbourfront Centre and the National Exhibition. She can also boast a long list of work in print, including appearances in publications such as Now Magazine and the Oye! Times.
“Bollywood – Images and Themes” is sprinkled with accessories and symbols that both illuminate and draw us into the pieces of artwork that represent Merhai and her culture. It is clear through the subjects and details of Merhai’s work that South Asian culture plays a significant role in their inspiration, production and presentation.
Each one of Merhai’s photo’s and paintings are themed around the Bollywood film and music industry, and focus on representing their intricate storylines and expressions. In the accompany- ing descriptions, Merhai explains that each was inspired by a well-loved Bollywood movie. This theme is evident in the strong emotions depicted by her subjects, particularly in some of her more moving photographs.
Merhai uses various techniques to capture the “story” within a photograph, including framing several of her photographs through a pair of reading glasses, are both innovative and imaginative. In another picture, Merhai is also able to depict two events or scenes within one image, allowing the viewer a chance to discover the strong interwoven relationship between the photograph’s two subjects.
From the minute you enter the Gales Gallery to the minute you leave, Merhai’s vibrant paintings and perceptive photographs, along with their unique presentation, don’t just entice you to continue on your journey through Bollywood – they carry you straight there.