Mumbai: Visual artist, journalist and communications professional Debarati S Sen received an enthusiastic response for her artworks at a recent exhibition at the iconic Jehangir Art Gallery, where visitors, collectors and fellow artists were particularly drawn to her innovative use of gold leaf detailing, a technique that added richness, texture and luminosity to several of her works.
Known for seamlessly moving between hyperrealism and abstraction, Debarati showcased a body of work that combined technical precision with emotional storytelling. This time, however, it was her experimentation with gold leafing that became a major talking point among visitors. The delicate application of gold brought an additional dimension to the paintings, creating layers of depth, movement and light that transformed the viewing experience.
“Gold has always symbolised value, memory, permanence and transformation across cultures,” says Debarati. “I wanted to use it not merely as embellishment but as a storytelling element that becomes part of the emotion and narrative within the artwork.”
The works stood out for their striking interplay of colour, texture and metallic brilliance. Depending on the angle of light, the paintings revealed different moods and visual nuances, encouraging viewers to spend more time engaging with each piece.
For Debarati, the exhibition marked another important milestone in an artistic journey that has steadily evolved over the years. Since 2019, she has exhibited extensively in Mumbai’s art circuit, including four exhibitions at the Nehru Centre Art Gallery and a showcase at Cymroza Art Gallery before presenting her latest works at Jehangir Art Gallery, one of India’s most respected art institutions.
A journalist by profession and an artist by passion, Debarati’s work often explores themes of identity, emotion, memory and human connection. Her ability to blend the observational eye of a storyteller with the sensitivity of an artist has helped create a distinctive visual language that resonates with audiences across age groups and cultures.
Her artistic journey has been encouraged by some of India’s most respected creative voices, including the late S. H. Raza, whom she interviewed during her years with Bombay Times, as well as celebrated artists Brinda Miller, Jaideep Mehrotra, Viveek Sharma, Sudip Roy and Prakash Bal Joshi.
Today, her artworks are part of private collections in India and overseas and have been acquired by prominent collectors including Pooja Bedi, Dr. (Hon.) Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Viveek Sharma, Poonam Salecha, Barkha Rahul Sharma and Soumya Vajpayee, among others.
The appreciation received at Jehangir Art Gallery not only celebrated Debarati’s artistic evolution but also highlighted her willingness to push creative boundaries. Through the thoughtful integration of gold leafing, she has added a new layer to her artistic vocabulary — one that reflects both craftsmanship and imagination.
As visitors paused before her shimmering canvases, one thing became evident: Debarati S Sen is not merely creating paintings. She is creating experiences that continue to reveal themselves long after the first glance.
