Bhubaneswar, July 21: A four-day art and photography exhibition organised by Odisha Modern Art Gallery showcased works of C.T.M. Suguna, an IAS officer of Odisha cadre.

Titled ‘Shadows of silence’, the exhibition that ended today at Jayadev Bhavan displayed Suguna’s creative genius.

Suguna, 55, knows how to juggle her work with creative pursuits and thus wields the paintbrush and the camera with the same ease.

There was an assortment of around 25 paintings and 30-odd photographs inspired from flora and fauna. Suguna, the state’s labour secretary, had painted a preying falcon, a hummingbird sucking nectar from a flower, a flying snow flamingo, portrait of an eagle and sketch of a swan.

Then there were several paintings of various landscapes. In most of her artworks, she used vibrant hues. She also etched a solitary sketch of Sai Baba on a maple leaf. Another painting of a kid playing with puppies beautifully portrayed the innocence of childhood. Though most of her paintings did not have any subtle meanings, a few abstract artworks could also be seen displayed on the walls of the exhibition room.

Among the photographs, her collection had the perfect mix of wide-angle pictures and close-ups. She wonderfully captured snow-capped mountains, panoramic lakes and sea beaches and city architecture.

She made the most of her various odysseys across different cities by unleashing the shutterbug in her and allowing the camera to capture some very interesting sights. More than the technical correctness of frames, her photographs stood true to the golden rule of paparazzi: “It’s all about timing it right.”

“It was my attempt to go beyond the limitations of official work. Through the meandering paths of my chequered career, I have often experienced the compulsions to seek a vocation that would help me maintain my composure,” said the 1989 batch officer.

Born in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Suguna has served in different administrative positions in Odisha. She is equally passionate about yoga, dancing and whipping up a range of delicacies.

Founder of the gallery and an eminent artist, Tarakant Parida praised the efforts of the artist in her.

“In spite of her hectic schedule, she has shown tremendous amount of affiliation and affection for art,” said Parida.