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A painting by Anu Naik

The Easel Art Gallery’s ongoing painting exhibition, “Perfect Lines” began on a jarring note when a minor fire threatened to mar its launch event this past week. A few minutes of hustling and shuffling later, things were in place though.

On display is a motley collection of paintings and sculptures by as many as 30 artists from across the country. Curator of the exhibition Anita Kulkarni says the works have been put together keeping in mind the “distinct styles started by the various artists.” Some of the stand-out works include those by Pramod Ganapatye, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Shamshad Husain, Arun Pandit, Krishnendu Porel and Anu Naik. Ganapatye’s representation of a flamboyant woman is charming with a minimal colour scheme, while Bhattacharya’s watercolours capture idyllic afternoons in an earthy style. Among others, Naik textures her works with a dry brush depicting Rajasthani women in traditional finery. “I got interested in Rajasthani and Gujrati cultures during my travels there. I was fascinated by the traditional costumes and jewellery,” she says.

Porel, on the other hand, has been influenced by the architectural splendour of Jantar Mantar. His painting juxtaposes dismantled portions of the observatory with the European influences of Delhi’s landscape. “I became fascinated by Jantar Mantar when once while sitting there I saw a kite flying above the structure. The poetic contrast of the kite, the sky and Jantar Mantar made me want to immediately depict it on canvas,” he laughs.

The gallery owner, S.K. Varma, who has been an art collector for the past 12 years, says the idea behind the exhibition was to bring together artists and their works from different parts of the country. He feels that now with corporate companies patronising art, the art world can expand its potential through more such exhibitions.

But what the effort does lack is a theme to bind the collection together. The exhibition is on till May 25.

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