ART CONNECT

20^th January 2020, 5.30 pm saw the coming together of 20 artists of Unique Society of Panchkula at recently opened underpass connecting sector 17, Chandigarh to the Rose garden. The paintings exhibited on easels were of varied themes and styles.

‘Untitled’ Vinod Arora’s compositions on a square format has an inter play of the  primary colours red , yellow , blue and daubs of green in varied tones ,the white spaces in between creating an intersection of  different planes . The subtle textures add an area of interest to the painting. ‘Towards the light’ by Vishwakarma with entwined forms of the tree trunk rendered in scarlet colour, seem to be  grounded on earth, surging  upward for release,  is it from the clutches of the unending cycle  of time .

Arika Kapur’s water with fishes frolicking in a pond of water lilies with an oriental background in contrast of reds and green creates visual depth. Bharti Sharma’s ‘Afternoon in Blue ’has melancholy overtones. A bespectacled figure seated looks up from his daily newspaper, in a background of Blue with the figure done in monochrome. The deep yellow of the frame and the rod in the foreground bring a perspective depth in the painting. ‘Leap forward’ by Ritu has a frog in white silhouette all poised to leap from its marshy green depths. Horse done in shades of umber by Kohli gallops forth, breaking the bonds of the mesh in the background. Jugdeep Jolly’s sculpture golden violinist adds an air of gaiety, its notes an harbinger of many a gala event.                   

The new underpass provides a much needed platform for the city artists to showcase their art works. It is a novel way of converting an otherwise dreary, lonely underpass to a colourful livened up vista. More so it takes the artists close to the audience who shy away from the formal display in public art galleries, providing a much needed informal display, resulting in close encounters with the audience. Hopefully it will open new horizons to the artists of Chandigarh to harness potential art lovers and provide an art connect.

Ranjan Dream Scapes

  14th December, 2019 saw the opening of exhibition of painting and drawing by Ranjan Kumar Malik.

Ranjan’s painting on canvas take you to a dream world. The images exhibit realism and are juxtaposed with other elements; at times a giraffe, a flamingo or a still life study. The images seem to be frozen in their tracks, indifferent in their attitude; in the same picture frame but engrossed in their own worlds. There is a certain stillness in the composition, even though the colours are bright and striking and add certain vibrancy to the painting .The artist shows great skill in the rendering and the colour strokes.

His series in monochrome show great spontaneity of execution, the various tones created by the cursory brushwork create images that have an enigmatic appeal.

His works remind you of lines of Bernard Shaw

‘You see things and say ‘Why’?

But I dream things and that never were, and I say why not.’

Ranjan Kumar Mallik has done BFA painting from Utkal University Bhubaneswar, MFA in Painting and M.Phil in History of Art from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, in 2013 and Ph.D in Jain Art by Chitrakoot University in 2014.

At present he is Dean at Chitkara School of Art and Design , Chitkara University ,Punjab, India.

THE COLORFUL WORLD OF PARESH MAITY

5^th December, 2019, Chandigarh Lalit Kala organised an audio visual presentation by Paresh Maity at the auditorium of Govt. Museum and Art Gallery.

The presentation began with the screening of a film made by him on Rajasthan. This was a Rajasthan as viewed by Paresh from the lens of a camera portraying the love for this desert land and inspiration of his numerous paintings. The people and their daily life ;fairs, festival  in all its vividness and bright colours is brought forth to the audience, showing astute sense of observation in capturing the details of this rustic, romantic landscape. What strikes you is this man who does not miss even the minutest of detail; manages so skilfully to portray in brevity, the essence of his vision on the canvas.

Paresh Maity started his journey into the world of art with water colours.  Later an urge to undertake art works at a much larger scale, he made a shift to canvas painting, the small size of water colour paper being a limitation to his creative process.

 The artist being a sensitive soul is ever influenced by the surroundings. It was a visit to Rajasthan that took him to an odyssey of colour. His earlier water colours of lush green fields and water bodies of Bengal were taken over the bright colours of this land, the red, yellows and blue. Along with the colour came the sights and sounds, the camel, the horse …all moved into his canvas frame; Illuminated by his favourite lantern - the celebrations, the fairs and life of the people, and to depict all that he saw; the human figure took centre stage in his art work.

His art seemingly is an extension of him, his persona reflecting in all its brilliance on his canvas, depicting ‘The Colourful World of Paresh Maity’.

PAPER SHOWMAN VINAY SHARMA

PAPER SHOWMAN 

VINAY SHARMA

Vinay Sharma’s installation 'Rhythmic Past'at the Government museum,23rd September,2019 to 25th October, 2019 Sector 10, transports the viewer to a setting in bygone era of  Rajasthan. The installation comprising of human figures; men, women, children, recreate a scene from the past. Vinay has a penchant for old radios. His private collection comprises of 350 old radios, many of them in working condition. Here on display are 40 -50 radios, old parchment, quill, ink pot and his own paintings on canvas. These different memorabilia create an interesting interplay of form and space. A figure is strategically placed on the first floor and a roll of paper hangs down creating a movement for the eye, reflecting his astute vision to connect different levels.

Vinay sensitivity as an artist and creative ability came across in the 

audio visual presentation held in Mini Tagore Theatre ,25th September,2019 Chandigarh. He sheds insight on his technique of paper making, printing (oil based serigraphy), various painting media and themes he experiments in.

Hailing from a small village of Rajasthan, the rural village colours, 

textures and sounds resonate in his work. Popularly known as 

paper-man he dresses up with paper, truly a spectacle… a paper 

showman in the art world.

 

19’S COLLISION

THE 19’S COLLISION

The Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy continuing with number play, heralded the start of workshop of 19 artist at the CKLA Open Hand Art Studio at the Le Corbusier centre, Sector 19, Chandigarh on 19th of November, 2019.

The three day workshop had artist from Chandigarh and various other places converge on the front lawn of the centre providing an ideal setting for the artist work.

The artist’s canvas brought forth varied moods and array of themes. The serene setting of the environ sets nature as a muse for the artwork of Ram Vrinjan and Ashwani Verma. Ram Vrinjan’s composition ‘Man and nature’ with figures juxtaposed among flora and fauna, the vibrant hues of red and  blue balanced with flecks of white and daubs of yellow. Ashwani’s peacock and female figures crane upwards, caught between the myriad of colour blocks.

Sadhana’s birds perched on the boulders take in the the sound of cascading waterfall. The symphony of sound seems to resonate in this rhapsody in lilac, the artist in tune with nature, synchs colours and composition at a higher plane in her art work. ‘Love and peace’ by Vinay Vadhera has an overall feel of spirited lightness. The figure embracing a heart floats among the clouds and the doves of peace with an air of harmony.

Paper boats make their way on placid waters of Sanjay Jathar canvas, their aerial view  give a three dimensional aspect to the composition  providing an interesting interplay of spaces . Giving rise to flight of fancy, the paper boat and paper planes create a vivid imagery to depict the minds of the headless figures of Anand Shende’s canvas. The muted pastel colours create a sublime effect.

 Two staid bright coloured women with dog alongside, glance through a detailed pattern frame ,the dark night depicted with crescent moon and an owl in Daphys ‘Bonnie, Amrit and Layla’. The city Chandigarh seems to enrapture Balwinder, the commotion and chaos of traffic and waves of technology engulf the sparrow fountain anchored as wind wane. The bright complimentary flat colours add a certain vibrancy in the painting. ‘Where trust is alive’ by Anup, the deer darts forth providing a diagonal movement ,while a flight of birds takes off  in the other direction ,the staid monolithic  human construction juts upward , posing a question to mankind .Nakshadeep brings in the winter setting with a snowy landscape of a quiet hamlet.

Tanja ushers in a freshness of form and colour in her composition. The artists have all created pieces of art worth a visit to the centre.

'MAN AND NATURE'-RAM VIRANJAN

FEEL OF NATURE-ASHWANI VERMA

'LOVE AND PEACE'-VINAY VADHERA

'AATHANG'-SANJAY JATHAR

ANAND SHENDE

'OPEN HAND'- BALWINDER

'WHERE TRUST IS ALIVE'-ANUP KUMAR CHAND

'UNTITLED'-NAKSHDEEP SINGH

'UNTITLED'-TANJA DJOKIC

'UNTITLE'-BODASINGU RAVIKIRAN

'UNTITLED'-SHARAD SONKUSALE

'UNTITLED'-TASLIM JAMAL

'UNTITLED'-BHANUPRAKASH

UNTOLD STORIES MADHU

UNTOLD STORIES

MADHU

Madhu’s art work show uninhibitedness and frankness that speak of a self -trained artist. This adds a special quality to her art works; of freshness and an unleashed freedom of expression. Her series on women oppression speak and beckon, behind closed bars to tell their story, that get reflected through the medium of colour. Their anguish and agony expressed  through ,even in the small sized art works.

Madhu even as a child would find refuge in art. Her childhood visit to her grandparent’s house in Dehradun had her exploring new medium in nature, she would often use the bark of pine trees to colour her world of fantasy. After her husband’s demise to overcome depression, she took solace in art to overcome depression.

Her landscape series show a happy carefree world with azure blue skies dotted with white clouds floating in happiness, the landscape below; with flowers blooming, rivers meandering and birds chirping in trees. There is no attempt to mix the colour palette; the rich intense colours endowing a vibrancy to her compositions.

An octogenarian filled with enthusiasm, her first art show, reflects her zest for art and life. She has in brevity managed to convey her thoughts: in nature with childlike glee and with equal deftness handled sombre subjects of despairing women, telling their untold stories.