New works of K G Subramanyan, Sukshm and more..

NEWS

New Works of KG Subramanyan

(Work by K G Subramanyan)

Seagull Foundation of Arts, Kolkata and Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi presents the new works of legendary artist K G Subramanyan. The works on display are an assortment of various mediums the artist has been painting on and has created series using them, including paper, gouache on board, canvas and  reverse painting on acrylic sheets, which are his speciality.

Padmavisbushana KG Subramanyan or Mani Sir or Mani da as he is known affectionately by his students, fellow artists, and friends turned 90 on 5th February this year. K. G. Subramanyan has worked with diverse media and materials, exhibiting extensively both within and outside the country. He is known as much for his wide-ranging scholarship as for his artworks which are full of wit, subversion, eroticism and critical social commentary. 

A major retrospective of his work was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, in 2003. He has been part of the arts faculty at M. S. University, Baroda, and is Professor Emeritus at Kala Bhavan, VisvaBharati, Santiniketan.

The Seagull Foundation for the Arts is travelling an exhibition of 90 new works to celebrate the life and times of this amazing personality. The exhibition opened in Baroda and will now be in Delhi at Art Heritage from 29th March to 20th April 2014.

A Veiled World

(Work by Shilpa Nikam)

Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai presents a solo show of works by artist Shilpa Nikam. The J J School of Art graduate presents her recent works of abstractions. Shilpa’s abstracts are a reflection of her relationship with nature and the existential world. 

Her art works are a mirror of her inner world which she sensitively reveals and conceals as windows in her works. The abstracts are medium sized and replete with textural nuances and contrasting depth with the occasional foray into hints of chiaroscuro. The palette the artist has opted for plays a pivotal role to the artistic expression and in spite of the references and influences of nature on the artist’s mind, the use of the obvious colour of ‘green’ to depict nature, is absent. Blues, whites, off whites, buff, sharp and dull reds yellows, blacks and deep greys constitute her palette. 

Unlike many abstractionists,  she refrains from using heavy symbolic forms of any kind, relying completely on composition, texture and colour. The layers and the window like outlets seem to play peekaboo with the viewer, hinting at the veiled world of the artist. 

The show is on view till 1st of April 2014.

Sukshm

(Work by Kumar Vaidya)

Art Gate gallery, Mumbai presents a show of recent paintings by Kumar Vaidya.

The show is titled, ‘Sukshm’, which the artist has recently created. The works are exclusive abstractions, rendered in various mediums, with nuances of the dark and light in them. The works evoke an emotional response in the viewer through their intricate renditions, layers and colour splashes. The viewer is left with the need to explore more realms of depth fearlessly through the textures and works.

The works are on view till 29th March 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Portraits of a city

Kalakriti opens its second gallery featuring works of artist Ram Kumar, including the celebrated Benaras series

(A view of the new gallery by Kalakriti at Trident, showcasing an exhibition of paintings by Ram Kumar)

The path leading to the new gallery space by Kalakriti, at Trident, is adorned with three arresting works of one of the most recognised veteran artists, Ram Kumar, of the Progressive Artist’s group. One of the paintings is a rare figurative work by the artist who later embraced abstracts. A painting showing youngsters clad in formal black suits, against the city at night, stands in contrast to the more vivid portraits of Benaras.

The abstract cityscape series on Varanasi has been celebrated over the years for the artist’s individualistic take on a city that left a lasting impression on him. Benaras, Ram Kumar felt, blurred the line between life and death. An abstract, dated 1993, has the artist painting the ancient city standing witness to all that happens on the river, teeming with people and boats.

(A view of the new gallery by Kalakriti at Trident, showcasing an exhibition of paintings by Ram Kumar)

Though the Benaras series has been discussed by art critics over time, observing these images at close quarters is an experience to be cherished. The artist draws attention to the many facets of the city with his astute use of colours and textures. A cityscape showing rows of houses in muted shades of beige, brown and yellow juxtaposing the water is the artist’s way of emphasising the plight of widows who came to the holy city to die; it is an impression of the sombre side of the city where dead bodies await befitting funerals.

In some paintings, Ram Kumar uses solid hues to denote the vibrancy of the city and in others, using black, grey and white, he paints sordid images, reflecting on what he perceives to be ‘a ghost town’ with its narrow, crowded alleys. The strokes vary with the hues, meditative in some cases and turbulent in others.

In his later paintings, dated 2010 and 2013, Ram Kumar chose happier tones to showcase landscapes, perhaps denoting his shift in views. ‘Trancescape’, featuring a selection of works by Ram Kumar, will be on display till April 30, at Kalakriti’s new gallery, Hotel Trident, Madhapur.

( Report by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo for The Hindu)