Galloping ahead
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After a gap, Delhi sees an exhibition on horses through Amitesh Verma's series, `Enlightenment'.
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HORSE POWER One of Amitesh Verma's works on display at Shridharani Gallery.
So, this summer-end, lots of horses await you at New Delhi's Shridharani Art Gallery. All through the works of Amitesh Verma titled Enlightenment. Young Verma, known among many for his portrayal of horses, this time, comes out with a complete series on them.
These works numbering a little over 50, are a result of Verma's toil of seven years. He studied them at railway stations, horse clubs, racecourses and so on. Ever since Husain's horses became famous, those painting horses were often accused of imitating him for a sure shot to fame. Defends a stoic Verma, "Husain never studied horses in detail. My horses are results of my detailed study on them. Hence, they don't resemble anyone. My study on them revealed interesting facts. For instance, a common man may not know that the racehorses don't have hair. It is cut by their owners to guard them against heat. The horses in my work are racehorses."
And Verma drills emotions in a few of them. Hence, some seem pensive, some head towards heaven (in his Way to Heaven series) and some seem to be enjoying the company of their `Family' (series), some vaguely fade into a cloud of colours, some wait for that spiritual force to come and `enlighten' them.
Verma moans not very many artists use animals in their works these days for they seem inclined towards human figures.
Human figures
"I also used to paint human figures but soon I got bored of it and started working on horses. I feel fascinated by their anatomy and strength. It is quite a challenge to paint them because they don't stand still for long. To bring more adequacy to my works, now I am going to buy a horse," says Verma who has done his shows in London and Singapore and is claimed to be quite popular there.
These works of Verma are dedicated to Swami Guruprasad Paramhans and Neeraj Goswami. Presented by Gallery Art Positive, the exhibition is on view till next Friday.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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