To celebrate its 16th anniversary, Shrishti art gallery is taking a detour from the habitual group shows to present works of art that blur the line between figurative and abstract. Aptly justifying the title ‘Spirit and Matter’, artists Seema Kohli, Ketaki Pimpalkhare, Parul Thacker, Parvathi Nayar, Shaila Nambiar, Shruti Mahajan and Shuchi Mehta use materials ranging from wood to gold dust and threads to explore concepts related to nature’s elements, human lives and the spiritual realm.
The artistic journey begins with Parul Thacker’s ‘Nine Suns’, her poetic representation of Sri Aurobindo’s idea of the sun. Nine rugged structures against a dark background glisten with the use of 24k gold leaf, raw iron minerals, brass sheet and camphor soot. A lone lamp stands symbolic of the light and energy that emanate from the sun.
Adjacent to this is Parvathi Nayar’s ‘To Other Places’, a hand drawn graphite work on wooden panels. A combination of wood and video projection is the artist’s tool to urge viewers to explore spaces within themselves and the world around, with some help from science and technology. Nayar is known for her multidisciplinary work through which she hints at a larger engagement with the environment. She uses black and white hand drawn graphite on wooden panels extensively to explore the connection between time and space. In particular, a work titled ‘Prateeksha (anticipation) and Srishti (creation)’ is intriguing.
Elsewhere, Ketaki Pimpalkhare’s vibrant patterns take us to the myriad life forms ‘Underwater’ that have survived apocalypses. As we witness the cycle of life and death above water, the surface beneath is a picture of calm and yet, a flurry of activity with the colourful forms of life.
Water by Seema Kohli
Again, water becomes the element in focus in Seema Kohli’s work. Shaped like a drop but also representative of a giant swirl that carries life forms within it, this intricate work is Kohli’s ode to the life-sustaining power of water.
Among the more metaphorical works is Shuchi Mehta’s ‘Interspace’, a series of rhythmic patterns of colour. The artists wants us to look beyond the colours and read between the lines. She equates these lines of colours to thoughts and emotions that dominate our very being, from which, she feels we must step back and explore the interspaces to find peace.
‘Spirit and Matter’ is on view at Shrishti art gallery, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, till April 17.
