Bhubaneswar, Dec. 1: Nashik-based artist Avinash Manekar has brought out in myriad colours his love for Jagannath culture at a solo art exhibition hosted at the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneswar.

The weeklong display of paintings culminated on Monday evening, but Manekar has promised to return with more works.

Most of the paintings by Manekar touched upon the subjects of devotion, especially the unique and mystic culture of Jagannath temple. In one of his works, he portrayed a young couple in the foreground, wherein the boy was seen playing a flute and the girl listening to him.

In the backdrop, the artist created the surf of the sea amid which Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are painted. There were a few other paintings that depicted the spiritual devotion and bonding between Lord Jagannath and his devotees.

"The concept of oneness of the deity and the devotee is beautifully depicted in the legends and anecdotes of the Jagannath temple. It has strong influence on my paintings," said Manekar.

He also portrayed many contemporary issues such as women empowerment. The visitors appreciated his collection showcased at the exhibition.

"The art works were interesting and invoked a sense of awareness about one's spiritual self as well as of the society and environment. The use of lighter shades is striking," said Niharika Parida, a visitor.

Some others liked his abstract works more than the theme-based paintings. "More than the works that depict portraits of human characters, his abstract paintings are intriguing and more mature," said Soumya Das, an art lover.

After this exhibition, Manekar is planning to take out time to visit various sites in the state and work more on subjects belonging to Odisha.

"I will try and cover as many districts here as possible to get a deeper understanding of the culture here that attracts me a lot," he said. The artist plans to take part in upcoming group exhibitions next year to be hosted in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the state.