Saleem Rajabalee’s exhibition of paintings was on view at Mahtay Cafe for the month of October 2024.
This exhibition marked a full two years of my ongoing curatorial project to platform Niagara based visual artists in that space. It also was a good reminder of how my original intention was to exhibit established artists in the Niagara region but over my time curating this space it has also become a starting point for many emerging artists, a stepping stone, if you will, as they begin to show their work and define themselves as artists.
The words of the artist :
This exhibition consists of paintings that are both abstract and landscapes based on the experiences and perspective of the artist. Inspired by nature and driven by the passion to protect natural habitats, Saleem has captured breathtaking views of beaches, flora and fauna. He has also placed an emphasis on the harmony between locals, their daily routine and the idea of dependency on our environment. Among the paintings are abstracts and semi-abstracts based on mainly the colors of the island and its beaches. Other paintings featured are Santorini island and a view of Mount Fuji in Japan as well.
Saleem Rajabalee is based in Niagara-on-the-lake and his work is based on experiences while living in Mauritius and Canada.