PROFILE
Faces of Freedom- Devidas Dharmadhikari
Devidas Dharmadhikari’s
recent show of figurative and portraiture works can invoke such intense
feelings in the viewer urging them into an introspective mode, observes Sushma
Sabnis.
(Devidas Dharmadhikari)
‘Imagination, like Pegasus, takes flight to claim the
sky,
Imagination like a pebble dives into the abyss to
claim the ocean...’
For Pune based artist
Devidas Dharmadhikari, the concept of an inner and an outer realm of existence
features prominently in his works. Devidas in his show titled, ‘Freedom within
the Bonding’, brings to fore a concept which has diversified from his earlier
shows. He has displayed his earlier
works a few years ago in a show called ‘ Don’t Stamp Me’, focused on the bias
that any and every human being faces in their lives. The ‘stamp’ could be
gender based, psychological, social, political, religious, or conceptual
branding of humankind as a whole. Devidas believes everyone is branded from
birth and perhaps even before birth. His show focussed on how an individual’s
persona is shaped subtly using these sublime parameters, in turn forming an
entire society and a nation of like minded groups of individuals, irrespective
of their individuality.
In his latest works, he
explores the human psyche as opposed to the surrounding influences. Taking off
from the Stamp series, this series deals with the individual’s interactions
within a society and structurally specific scenario. Devidas believes that no
individual is devoid of an unseen bonding which allows them a kind of a
freedom, ironically, this freedom also allows this bonding. He believes that
freedom and bonding are like two faces of a coin which are inseparable and each
has its own need of the other to exist, almost a symbiotic existence. Mutually
limited in expression, the bonding and the freedom can express only to a
certain extent and this duality and balance of existence can be well understood
by anyone who has probably committed to something.
Devidas, a G D in Art
(painting) from the Dalvi's Art
Institute, Kolhapur, has worked in various mediums and the Freedom within the
Bonding series is entirely rendered in acrylic on canvas. The works are
portraitures of people, perhaps known to the artist, in very similar poses,
namely, with their heads slightly bowed down and their eyes in a semi open
state as if they were in meditation or lost in deep thought about something or
someone. Perhaps they are introspecting about their own lives. The visual and
the palette focuses entirely on the emotion that the face evokes in the viewer.
One could come across such a
visage in a journey, or as a co-passenger in a bus, or just some person who
sits alone lost in thought at a coffee shop. The faces have a familiar
expression, one which can be seen on people who are probably lost in a
delicious memory of a loved one, or perhaps in preparation of something
profoundly serious in their respective lives. Some faces even hint at a
romantic memory being reminisced or in anticipation of a romantic memory, some
are in absolute communion with the Supreme in a dialogue not privy to the
outside world.
(Painting by Devidas Dharmadhikari)
Devidas captures all of
these emotions accurately without giving out too much information about any of
the protagonists or their thoughts. They are silent, but they speak volumes
with out even making eye contact with the viewer. The alluring paintings almost
make the viewer ask the question, ‘what are you thinking about?’
The visuals have tiny
markings, typography, words, florals and symbols which are interspersed quietly
into the painting without being domineering or taking the attention away from
the protagonists, at the same time they are of relevance because they are
perhaps keys to the answer of the above question. One of the paintings, has the
face of a young girl, her lips about to break into a smile, a similar image has
been graphically styled into four monochrome sections in another painting, and
this one has a winged horse subtly implying the girl’s state of mind.
The silent thoughts of the
protagonists and the viewer’s curiosity about those thoughts creates a bonding
between them, yet the viewer has the freedom to interpret as they deem right
and perhaps that is in itself a connect between the artist and the viewer. Devidas’ works are on view at the Hirji Gallery at
the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai till the 27th of May 2013.
Devidas Dharmadhikari
lives and works in Pune.
NEWS
Melange - traditional and contemporary art
Pearl Art Gallery, New
Delhi, presents a show titled, ‘Melange’ showcasing the exquisite works of a
group of upcoming and established artists in the country. The show displays
works as paintings and sculptures, rendered in various styles and mediums.
The works are mostly
figurative in style and with intricate details depicting a variety of themes.
The vibrancy of the canvases evokes a certain kind of infectious energy in the
viewer. The works are replete with the courage to depict human figures and
interpret their interactions in various scenarios urban and rural. The show
displays a mix of traditional and contemporary art merging in an eclectic
expression.
The participating artists
are Ramesh Gorjala, Kishore Roy, Sachindernath Jha, Laxman Aelay, Nisha Singh
and Shashi Paul.
The show is on view till the
8th of June 2013.
Resonating emotion through Art
Artist’s Centre, Mumbai
presents a solo exhibition of art works by artist Medha Rangnekar, in a show
titled, ‘ Resonance 2013’. The show displays Medha’s attempt to let feral ideas
take shape and voice in the language of colours and forms. These ideas blend
into narratives in the paintings reflecting the myriad moods of the artist.
Medha is a J J School of Art graduate in Applied art and her
theme of the art works displays an unbridled use of colour, texture, technique
and style. She boldly and confidently applies on the canvas not just colour but
colour dipped in emotion. The outcome is a bold expression which is eye
catching, vibrant and very powerful.
The show starts on the 3rd
of June 2013 and will go on till the 9th of June 2013.
In favour of the Labour
The Ganges Art Gallery,
Kolkata, presents a group show by six artists titled, ‘Shrom O Shramik’. The
show focuses on the idea of labour and laborers in independent India. The works have been rendered in a variety of
mediums such as acrylic on paper, acrylic on canvas, oils on canvas,
installations created with iron rods and fibre glass, mixed media works with
acrylic, brick dust and clay, photographs, found objects installations and
steel.
The variety of the show is
also in the kind of works on display from paintings to paper work, from steel
installations to mixed media and photography and collage works.
The artists participating in
the show are Debraj Goswami, Pratul Dash, Chandra Bhattacharya, Sanjeev
Sonpimpare, Prasanta Sahu, Chhatrapati Dutta.
The artists have tried to
depict the hard working class of the underbelly of society, the labourers who
toil day and night to make ends meet or build mansions while living in dire
circumstances. The show tries to portray the class divide in society and inhuman
treatment subjected to them and raises questions about such sections of society
which are blatantly ignored.
The show is on view till the
30th of May 2013.
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