Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5: Transforming his observations and views on society into artistic images, Odia painter Ranjan Mallik is ready to display his collection paintings at a solo exhibition in New Delhi from Monday.

The series, which Mallik has named Social Ties, would be on display at the Open Palm Court Gallery of the India Habitat Centre.

Known for his unconventional take on social life, Mallik has always shown a flair for experimentation in contemporary art.

Exploring different themes and styles and playing with shading techniques using a wide range of colours, the artist has tried to produce pictures of the male-female bond in the Indian society in the works that would be on display.

“I have tried to present my observations on the behaviour and manners of both a man and a woman before and after their wedding. This set of 20 paintings under my series Social Ties explores the excitement of a woman before wedding. I have also covered some traditional rituals of an Odia wedding in the collection,” said Mallik.

For the artist hailing from Balasore, the various moods of the couple about to tie the knot is a broad set of feelings.

He has expressed all this in his works such as one in which we see a female form in the sky looking at the world beneath her.

“I have established an urban setting in this painting to show how young brides wish to see the developed world with their life partner after wedding and this thought makes them fly high in dreams,” said Mallik.

Another painting captures the ritual of hatha ganthi in an Odia wedding where the palms of the bride and the groom are tied during the wedding.

This knot is supposed to be untied by the bride’s sister for which she demands a gift or money from her brother-in-law for fun.

Apart from the 20 paintings, Mallik will also display five drawings, all part of a series. These charcoal sketches depict the a female form with angel-like wings. Mallik has portrayed her in various moods.

“This is the outcome of inspiration from my personal life. Everyday when I return home, my wife Sonia, also a painter, shares with me various stories and events of the day. While doing this, I observe the swing in her mood, which reflects the story she is telling me. I have tried to present this in my drawings,” he said.

The exhibition, of which Sonia would be the curator, will be inaugurated by film director Nila Madhab Panda who hails from Odisha.

The event will be on until August 10.