"My exhibition in Japanese-style painting portraying Indian imagery was an exciting challenge for me, as it uses a relatively unknown medium. At times I struggled late into the night to bring about the desired effects. When suddenly I could see the subject emerge with the brilliance of its pigments against a subtle contrasting background, that was like communing with God."
Madhu Jain regards her fusing of "nihonga" techniques and Indian themes as her contribution toward bringing the cultures of Japan and India closer. She was always an artist. Coming to Tokyo some years ago with her husband, a senior Indian diplomat, widened her scope. She took full advantage of her different opportunities here.
Born in the pink city of Jaipur in the desert state of Rajasthan, Madhu grew up in Delhi, where she graduated from university with a B.Sc. degree. She took a year's course at an art school. Married and with two sons, she lived in the U.S., Singapore and Pakistan before the family came to Japan. "Wherever I went I loved to go away to rural areas to capture what I saw of a slower life," she said. "In India I painted bullock carts, girls in sari, the vivacity of cultural heritage and traditions. I went to beaches in south India, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and California, so that my love of water grew."