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Krishna anew

LOVE ONLY One of Shuvaprasanna's works

Shuvaprasanna is back - with his old favourite Krishna but in a different mood, ambience and most importantly, colours. The celebrated artist is holding a solo show of 20 of his large works at Art Alive gallery at Panchsheel Park till January 25. And this time his works, which took him over two years to come out with, are derived from an age-old book called "Chandi" given to his father, a physician and a very religious man, by a sanyasini when this artist was just four years of age.

Says the artist with a child-like laughter, "For long I have been trying to develop a theme on an icon. `Chandi' helped me zero in on Krishna with completely different symbols and colours. This book seems to be the only one that gives a description of colours in a specific context where Krishna forms an integral part. For example it tells why indigo is used at a specific place. It has a marvellous symbolism too. I have mixed contemporary sensibility with it in these works."

In this exhibition, Evocative Expressions - In Quest of Krishna, Shuvaprasanna shows Krishna not just as a warrior but one who is full of `maya' and who attracts flora and fauna. Pastel pinks, mauves, blues and yellows dominate. The artist has used layers of colours, rice paper, charcoal, acrylic and oil. The Blue God being repeatedly used by artists all over the country, there is little scope for novelty.

Not really god

Shuvprasanna counters, "The Krishna myth exists everywhere. In India it changes according to the local culture and atmosphere. Even its literary forms are different. Abroad people admire works having Krishna because they don't treat him as a god but a beautiful Indian form with interesting colours that define him. For me too, Krishna is not a religious factor but a symbol of love."

If a growing market value for artworks makes Shuvaprasanna happy - "Now I can also live like a gentleman" - a rush for `new media' and the lack of concentration in young artists hurts.

"It is pathetic to note that our installations are the same as the West's. Where is our identity? How can art be standardised? Our young artists now use more of intelligence than their souls. It pains me. It may be good for their pocket but not for our history and culture," he rues.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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