25 years of Audio-Visual Journey,Secrets and Lies, Melting the Cosmos and more..

NEWS

25 years of Audio-Visual Journey

After the 25 years of existence of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts( IGNCA), the Media Centre is organising a hindsight view of all the audio - visual equipment that it has been using, and multi - disciplinary documentations done through them in all these years.

The exhibition, '25 years of Audiovisual Journey: Recalling through Equipment and Documentation' will provide milestone of audio - visual equipment IGNCA has acquired, and documentation done thereof. This 10 days exhibition will showcase the work of audio equipments, then development of varied projection systems, finally the world of video format from VHS to U - mantic low band, high band and then to Beta format. There will be two kiosks showcasing huge unpublished audiovisual documentation material, which provides the precursor for any researcher.

The show is on view till 20th December 2013.

Melting the Cosmos

(work by YShivarama Chary)

Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, is hosting an exhibition ‘Melting the Cosmos’, an exhibition of sculptures made by popular sculptor Y Shivarama Chary. 

Chary, who has learnt traditional sculpture from his father Y Jagadeeshwara Chary, later fine-tuned his skills by doing MA Fine Arts at Sarojini Naidu School of Fine Arts, University of Hyderabad in 2004. He took part in several solo and group exhibitions across the country and won accolades from art critics. Chary’s main focus is to find connect between human being and nature. His images speak about human consciousness about nature and limitless freedom. Every sculpture conveys a strong message about nature in a simple but a holistic manner.

The show is on view till 21st December 2013.

An evening of Poetry and Visual Arts

Jehangir Nicholson Gallery,Mumbai presents a special evening that brings a perfect blend of poetry and visual arts. On display here will be the amazing collection of art works by Mohan Samant. Adding to the feel of the evening will be six voices - Adil Jussawalla, Gieve Patel, Ranjit Hoskote, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Jerry Pinto and Mustansir Dalvi, who will be presenting some of their best poetic collections.

The evening tries to find the relationship between various forms of arts and how each art has enriched the other. The readings by the poets draws the history of dialogue between the spoken word and the painted image.

Mohan Samant was as passionate artist whose love for playing the sarangi was as strong as his love for the extraordinary work as a visual artist. The artist believed that practising sarangi improved his discipline and sharpened his focus on painting.

The show is on view on 12th December 2013.

Secrets and Lies

Art And Soul Gallery, Mumbai presents the display of ceramics, sculptures and paintings by a known artist Adil Writer, titled ‘Secrets and Lies’

A ceramic artist, painter and architect from Bombay, Adil Writer is a holder of number of degrees like Bachelor of Architecture from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Bombay, Master of Architecture from University of Houston, Texas, USA. Living and working in Auroville, the artist is a partner at Mandala Pottery which produces functional tableware, assorted ceramic items, and architectural ceramic murals and installations at Auroville.

His amazing works that would also feature some of the ceramic works created by him at a recent residency in Shigaraki, Japan is displayed. 

The exhibition is open on view till 18th December 2013.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Less is more

Small is beautiful. That’s the message the sculptures and paintings on view at an exhibition ‘1x1 Of a Kind’ at Forum Art Gallery, seem to convey

(Work by Manisha Raju)

The stark walls of Forum Art Gallery are filled with small canvasses all a riot of colour. Around the office, on pedestals, are miniature sculptures made from copper, bronze, brass and stone on just about every subject ranging from The Cow and The Moon to a woodpecker on a tree. ‘1x1 Of A Kind’ is an exhibition of paintings and sculptures in small format, held at Forum, in association with Progressive Painters Association.

The framed canvasses of S. Saravanan are a mix of different styles. There are some mythological references that play throughout the four paintings, but the geometric patterns and the colours used are reminiscent of Aztec and Egyptian styles. “The reason the show focusses on the small format this time is because there is a history behind it. The Progressive Painters Association was one of the first to hold a small format exhibition in the country (in the early 1970s). That apart, the art is very affordable and with shrinking spaces, people are more open to buying smaller works by prominent artists,” says Shalini Biswajit, Director, Forum Art Gallery. “The artists also find it challenging to paint or sculpt in that size.”

Interest in yoga

The mixed media canvasses of B.O. Shailesh do not just portray his interest in art but also in yoga. He transcends canvasses and works on cushion covers as well. The colours are kitsch and the central figure (a man) is seen in different asanas. In one, he is in padmasana, in front of an elephant, while another shows him in padahastasana, encased in a diamond door that is inside a silhouette of his head, perhaps to indicate his state of mind.

What is interesting about Raju Durshettiwar’s art is not the bright colours that draw you to his paintings but the intent. He paints gods through their colours. A storm of midnight blue with black captures Shiva (you can almost spot the trident in the whirlwind, if you look closer), the radiant glow of turmeric that eventually dissolves into red portrays Saraswathi, while a fiery red and orange with black strokes brings depicts Narayana. “The association has got together both eminent and emerging artists for the show. This year, we have art by 26 artists,” says Shalini.

(Work by S Nandagopal)

Hemalatha’s enamel art is endearing, probably because the artist tries to paint like she sculpts. The paintings are colourful, one of Radha and Krishna playing his flute, catches the eye. The trees in the background gleam like jewels. Krishna plays on and Radha listens with her eyes closed. Hemalatha’s sculptures are lively and colourful as well. The copper Ganesh who is yellow and dotted with orange has indigo ears is a delight. The other is Krishna performing the Kalinga Nardhanam.

The women in A. Selvaraj’s paintings are expressive, ethereal and have lotus-like eyes. Ironic, since one of the women holds a lotus fondly. while the woman in the green painting looks on with a regal air. Manisha’s women, on the other hand, are serene goddesses. Their hair is loose, a soft wind blowing through them, they wear large red bindis, flowers on their ears and around their neck and in their hair, and their eyes are closed or slightly open. One of the women, in green, has her head cocked to one side, as if listening to a silent tune.

(Work by Akkitam Narayanan)

Playing with red

V. Viswanathan’s casein on canvas plays with the colour red. The gradation and the placing of red against black is interesting and could lead to many interpretations. Akkitam Narayan’s oil on canvasses are on a completely different plane. The colours are distinct and painted in squares and rectangles, separated by white spaces. In some, white lines with scriptures fill the spaces while others have watery waves, raging flames and a lotus flower, to indicate the elements.

Venkatapathy’s canvasses are filled with totems and Richard Jesudoss’ art brings murals to mind. S. Nandagopal’s copper sculptures of Krishna, Cow and the Moon and the Goat and Snake have great attention to detail. C. Douglas’ art and sculpture are also around the theme ‘Bell and the Child’. P. S. Nandan’s stone sculptures have an owl with splayed wings, among other works.

1x1 Of A Kind is on display at Forum Art Gallery, 57, Padmanabha Nagar, 5 Street, Adyar till January 18.

(Report by Anusha Parthasarathy for The Hindu)