Expressions of protest
Saraswathy Nagarajan
|
Lanny Frances DeVuono's paintings depict her protest against globalisation.
|
Global view: Lanny Frances DeVuono
Lanny Frances DeVuono had heard a lot about Kerala, its rich culture and the democratically elected Communist Government. So when she was offered a chance to visit the place as a Fulbright Scholar, she snapped up the offer without a second thought. A great admirer of the works of the Malayali artist Rimzon, Lanny decided to do her paper on his works and also experience Kerala.
An artist and teacher in the United States (U.S.), Lanny was troubled by the "condescending attitude towards socialism" that she frequently encountered in academic circles in the United States.
"Most Americans seem to be ignorant or blasι to events that shape the world we live in. They were becomingly insular."
The artist's protest found expression in paintings that depicted her angst against the policies of the Bush Government.
A series of paintings, which portray serene landscapes and romantic settings are juxtaposed with words painted in red. For instance, a picturesque rural landscape depicting a farm has one word slashed in red - `Lot.' "In American English, a `lot' also means a parking lot. If we tried to commercialise everything and exploit nature, a day would not be far when such empty spaces would be all filled up .
Romantic landscapes
"Many of the romantic landscapes by English artists were painted in the latter half of the 20th century. It was a period of social and economic turmoil. There was slavery, imperialism and despotic monarchs. However, none of the serene paintings in those times depict anything of those hard times.
Taking off from there I wanted to show how romantic landscapes could be used as a backdrop to show that an idyllic world is threatened by greed. The paintings are meant to be a wake-up call." Talking about her impressions of Kerala, she says, "As I was travelling from the airport, the chaotic traffic caught my attention. Streams of traffic flowed in from all directions and yet there was a kind of order. This seems to symbolise India, where different streams of culture, religion, languages and communities merge and flow as one, even while retaining their individual identity. The traffic was maddening, but there was a method in it."
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
