About the artist

Art and science inform and influence each other in the life of Jaideep Mathur.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph, Ontario, he unravels the mysteries of shape development in plants and their interactions with the environment employing “living colours”, or fluorescent proteins. The images obtained during his microscopy observations of living cells, are artistic in themselves, and many end up on the covers of peer reviewed scientific journals.

Born in the ancient city of Varanasi, India, Jaideep’s fascination with colour, light and patterns started early on. As a child, he remembers constructing intricate designs from colourful yarn provided by his grandmother, and watching light streaming through the window and his yarn creations. Later on, he could notice the similarities between those early yarn patterns, and the dynamic structures found inside all living cells.

As a budding botanist, Jaideep fell in love with the rich flora and majestic beauty of the Himalayas. During plant gathering expeditions, he spent many days exploring the rugged terrain and marvelling at the crystal-clear waters of streams and rivers cascading over rocky surfaces and boulders. Later on, his scientific and personal travels took him to numerous countries and beautiful natural places that would provide added layers of inspirations for the paintings. These experiences have ignited a passion for nature that comes through in his artistic expressions.

Jaideep uses small brushes to bring out detail that has become his signature style. His lifelong love of plants, fascination with colours, flowing water, the play of light and patterns, and the notion of blurring the boundaries between inner and outer spaces are leitmotifs in his artistic works.

Previous, informal exhibitions of Jaideep’s paintings were held in Hungary and Germany.

However, the upcoming solo exhibition of original artwork, with the collection “Garden Cafe”, at Gallery 35 in Brampton, Ontario, marks Jaideep’s formal launching of his artistic career.