“There is a general perception that watercolour has particular limitations and that consequently the best approach, and certainly the safest, is to work within the traditional technique of painting from light to dark, using a succession of thin washes that exploit the translucency and ethereal qualities of the medium.

But, as Shanti Panchal’s impressive,densely coloured, powerful, personal and contemplative paintings demonstrate, watercolour is a medium that can be surprisingly versatile. In challenging the conventional boundaries of the medium, he produces works that have a remarkable sense of presence and impact, that are implicit of an autobiographical, Indian and Hindu context, and are reposeful, serene and unique.”