The Hindu : New Delhi News : The rainbow descends....

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

The rainbow descends....

Riot of colours: A work by Bhagat Singh

A six-day-long group show displaying artistic creations of different genres opens at Delhi’s Visual Arts Gallery this Wednesday. Titled “Satrang”, the show will display the works of Bhagat Singh, Pradeep Puthoor, Parvin Dabas, Sonia Chawla, Simrin Agarwal, Subodh Kerkar and Viren Tanwar who have predominantly used the seven colours of the rainbow on canvas. Though their works differ greatly, the artists share a common and binding passion for colour.

Stating that the variation in the seven colours of the rainbow, some subtle and others more pronounced, are beyond definition or easy identification, curator Sushma Bahl says: “This show provides a perspective overview of current art practices in seven different colours by seven Indian artists in their own oeuvre.”

According to Chandigarh-based artist Viren, he paints the saga of everyone’s life; a life that in many ways is symbolically linked to the circus. While Thiruvananthapuram-based Pradeep’s painstakingly detailed drawings and paintings are inundated with absorbing images of strange creatures, complex geometric patterns and erotic symbols, Delhi artist Bhagat finds solace through evocative and colourful landscapes full of lush green trees and amazing fruits and flowers.

Artist Sonia’s multi-media installations in wood focus on the threat to biodiversity and other environmental issues. Her painting titled “Vortex” shows a powerful current of organic patterns. The cavity or void in the centre of the art piece tends to draw the figure inward.

Artist Simrin believes that architectural spaces in the city create a psychological effect. She says there is a collision between the real and the imagined in her works. “By exploring the relationship between the urban and the biomorphic in my work, I thread together a complex maze of fascinating imagery,” she adds.

A qualified doctor-turned-artist (painter, sculptor and installation) from Goa, Subodh refers to himself as an ocean artist whose nature inspired work deals with elements of “panchatatva” in geometric forms and patterns using natural and found materials.

Mumbai-based actor-cum-artist Parvin displays underwater photographic imagery that presents a teasing view of another world. “One needs to have a broad view of photography,” he says: “It is not just documentary or ‘as captured by the camera’ but also contains pieces of our imagination and of our perspective of looking at things.” While the inauguration is on Wednesday, the exhibition will be open from Thursday to September 24.

– Madhur Tankha

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