Haneet Grover arrived from Delhi in 2007 with a return ticket to pursue a Master of Fine Arts at RMIT University. Seventeen years later, she remains in Melbourne, continuing to make her mark in the art world.
Last week, amid the winter chill, Plume Gallery at Albert Place in South Melbourne hosted Grover’s first solo show, titled “Essence of Life.” Grover regards it as a milestone moment.
“It’s rare for an Indian to exhibit in a gallery in Melbourne. Unfortunately, Indian art is often underestimated by many communities,” says Grover, adding, “I worked for three months in these cold nights to prepare 20 brand-new pieces for the exhibition.”
Art has been a passion for Grover from the start. She fondly recalls that her first toys were colours, and with her mother, Daljeet Grover, being an artist, she was encouraged to immerse herself in the art world.
“In school, I won all the trophies for art. That’s when I realised this is it—I want to be an artist. I never had a Plan B, honestly,” she shares. “It is a hard field to crack and make a name for yourself in.”
Grover completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Delhi University and her Master of Fine Arts at RMIT University. “My parents encouraged me and happily sent me to Melbourne,” she says.
However, after getting married, she took an eight-year break from art to pursue a career in the corporate world, becoming engrossed in paying bills, managing a mortgage, and raising two young children.
Driven by a strong desire to return to her first love, she started a private art school at home in 2012, alongside her corporate role. “It still didn’t fulfil my soul,” Grover reflects.
Later, when she joined her husband in his real estate business—a Ray White franchise—as head of property management, she found the space to expand her school. She set up the Melbourne Art Academy at the back of the Ray White office. As soon as she finished her property management duties at 5 pm, she would immerse herself in the art academy.
Currently, Grover teaches about 50 students each week and has mentored approximately 700 artists to date. Having explored various styles, from portraits to realistic art, she discovered her true niche in abstract art after “going through hundreds of phases as an artist.”
“As an artist, I also need to sell art and make money from it. While there are personal projects, like sketching, an artist must also adapt to market trends,” she explains.
Grover believes abstract art is more challenging than realistic art. She feels that only someone with a background in realistic art can truly succeed in abstract art. “It’s about aesthetics and balancing colours in a way that appeals to people, which comes with experience. It’s about creating your original style.”
Her abstract paintings vividly convey emotions while offering subtle, indirect references to place and time through intricate constructs. For instance, her abstract representation of Indian night bazaars captures the essence of those vibrant markets, evoking their atmosphere and energy in a uniquely abstract form.
Grover acknowledges that abstract art is open to interpretation, which she sees as part of its beauty. It allows viewers to engage with the art personally, making each piece a conversation starter.
Her work is both relentless and involving. Each piece takes a few weeks to complete, though Grover often faces artist’s block that can last for days. She details her technique, saying she begins by choosing a colour palette and then works with both acrylics and oils, relying solely on her intuition rather than external influences or online resources.
Grover’s artistic journey has been both productive and heartwarming in terms of the feedback she has received. For example, a mother-daughter duo told her that her art brought joy and positively changed their family dynamics. The daughter, who had never painted before, found a way to express her emotions and de-stress through art, significantly improving their home environment. “That was a huge compliment from a Melbourne resident who had never painted before.”
During COVID, Grover successfully taught art via Zoom, initially using her family as guinea pigs. She conducted 107 weeks of classes with students from the US, Canada, and Australia, balancing commission work, teaching, and sip-and-paint sessions. Now, she teaches 70 students online and offers in-person classes at Wyndham Council for professional training.
With her recent exhibition a success, Grover says Melbourne is ready to invest in original art, and the exhibition highlighted this potential. “Many people who previously owned no art placed orders, affirming the unique value of original pieces. My work is evolving, allowing me to showcase it to an audience and receive valuable feedback. Being noticed is incredibly encouraging. Art can be a lonely journey, but Melbourne’s acceptance of my work marked a significant transition from anonymity to the limelight.”
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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