Other States - Puducherry   

Art runs riot at Auroville

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

ART OF A DIFFERENT KIND: Visitors looking at the rather unusual installations at Auroville in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: For the past couple of weeks, Gallery Square Circle has been a riot of colour with six women — Nele Martens, Chantal Gowa, Cynthia Prabhakar, Benitha Perciyal, Gita and Katy Deslandes — working and putting up their work for all to see.

Called very aptly ‘Synergy Shakti,’ it was a workshop that saw the women exchange ideas, learn about their work and bond personally as well. The exhibition at Kalakendra’s gallery in Auroville is on till January 13.

German-born Nele Martens, who studied art in Italy and who lives in Auroville, likes to work on colours and what colours do to people.

“I have created my spaces with things that are found in markets and in homes. Women in India create spaces in houses. They are the one’s who carry on traditional art. With colour you can change moods. Art I feel is a way of life and it’s all round us,” she explained.

Chennai-based Gita is a dancer, psychologist, artist and documentary maker. She has fused female figures of Bharatanatyam dancers with musical instruments.

“I am a colourist… all my semi abstract oil paintings are full of colour. I see the female form in the musical instruments,” she explains.

Making short films on other artists is what she has been doing these past three years and she has made one on this workshop as well.

Cynthia Prabhakar, who hails from a family of artists, has a passion for print making.

The spill of colours in unexpected unusual places and unusual mediums – she teaches art to children.

A native of Tiruvannamalai, Benitha Perciyal tries her hand at print making, installation, painting and sculpting. For her everything in life is art and she explores ambience, which started from her childhood.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

“96 % target achieved under first phase of polio programme”
“Refund excess fee to students”
Exciting year ahead in Alliance Francaise
CPI to intensify stir against government
Bank to open ATM at Kalapet
Carry out course correction, UPA told
Art runs riot at Auroville

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu