Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Search for an identity
|
Genesis-8: Search for Surfaces showcases the works of four talents
|
ROOTED TO CULTURE One of the works on display
The texture and quality of life in Chennai have been changing dramatically. Perhaps one sphere where we did not see this co-relation of development was in the art arena. But now there seems to be a turn of events as evidenced in the exhibition titled "Genesis-8: Search for Surfaces," curated by Sadanand Menon. The recently opened show at Forum Art Gallery saw four artists showcasing their works — P. Alagar Raja, Ganesh Selvaraj, V. Narayanan and S. Prabhakaran.
The artists have been experimenting enthusiastically to evolve their own language of art, and have succeeded in their attempt by their engagement with technology and the availability of new materials. Their non-conventional works hang on the gallery walls as any traditional canvas would.
Despite their works showing signs of moving on a different trajectory, they nevertheless remain rooted to their culture. Though the materials are derived from technology, their concepts are bounded within the tradition of philosophy. Their politics of representation is entirely experiential and this subjectivity marks them as different. But the character of strong design patterning that underpins their works is within the tradition of the Madras Art Movement.
Except for Prabhakaran whose works include dry pastel on paper and an installation, the works of Alagar Raja, Ganesh and Narayanan have a thread of connectivity in their representation.
Bold strokes
Alagar Raja's works are immensely subjective, conditioned by an inner necessity to express his experiences, thoughts and feelings through an abstract language. His works have a predominance of white interspersed with gold, blue, yellow and other pastel shades. His works are dynamically bold though not strident or aggressive. An aura of serenity blankets the pieces, drawing the viewer to scrutinise them repeatedly.
In his artistic statements, Ganesh attempts to conceptualise his journey through life. And as he journeys forth, events, encounters and confrontations as well his feelings and emotions mark a trace, which he has visualised through different mediums, materials and techniques. He vehemently declares that each piece is an individual entity of ideas, which represents his experiences. His works present a different posturing, particularly in approach to materials and their configuration. The works are so diverse it is difficult to imagine they have been created by the same artist. Narayanan's ideology is one of change and transformation; hence, he uses the elemental fire to inscribe his concepts. The tangential reality of form enables him to make concrete representation in space, while time becomes an imagined reality to be conjured by the viewer as he perceives the transformation already in place. Space in his works has been conceptualised to make a contemplative statement. With ubiquitous materials such as mosquito coil, melting wax and burnt matches, Narayanan transcends to a philosophic plane, where the proverbial constant is change itself. His works are strangely asymmetrical creating areas of absorbing interest.
Prabhakaran's dry pastels are a kaleidoscope of colour. Moving beyond his early landscapes that were worked out with colours and textures, he has now reached an abstraction, which is a deluge of colours overpoweringly dramatic or serenely meditative. His installation "Frozen Moment" is reminiscent of pristine snowscapes where metaphorically the whirring fan sans its blades and only the sound replaces the blitzy atmosphere.
The works of these artists clarify a process of synthesis, which marks a new departure, new reintegration, involving breaking down elements to form a new configuration. They have investigated the surface to go beyond it philosophically as `inner thoughts', `existential experiences', `transformation and change' and capriciousness of nature. Through these foraged surfaces, they have opened a trajectory to inscribe their individual identity.
The show, inaugurated by the Canadian Consul, is on at Forum Art Gallery, Adyar, till July 28.
ASHRAFI S. BHAGAT
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
