Three artists are showcasing their works at David Hall, Fort Kochi, in a show simplistically called ‘Three Spaces'. Generally a group show has a curatorial common thread but here each space is markedly individualist in conceptualisation and execution and hence the effect is of a solo show of each artist.
Bold telling
Sunil Laal T.R.'s big, bright works are bold narratives and he delights in telling a story. His tale is about the change that's crept into societies like the tribes of Wyanad, in the Muslim women folk and about the rise of the metro sexual. Artistic narrations of such subjects are interestingly delineated by Sunil. He has observed the increase in the wearing of veil among Muslim women in Kerala. He stops at expressing his findings and does not comment further.
Change too has reached the remote countryside of Wyanad finds Sunil who is from Ambukoothi. The young 38-year-old did his art studies from Government Arts College, Thrissur and his Master's from Vishwabharthi, Shantiniketan.
Shantiniketan he says gave him an absolutely fresh and different perspective. He compares the the Santhals from Bengal to the Panniyars from Wyanad. “The two differences between them are seen in language and wearing of the sari.”
The images in the works are all from his village. “Contemporary lifestyle has overtaken them. The nightie is not their dress but most of them wear it now,” he says about the sweeping uniformity in entire societies, and the losing out of inherent identities.
“Even gold jewellery” has reached them, he says about a society he has been watching closely and feels strongly about.
‘After Lunch' is a joyous, happy canvas where he literally paints leisure as a couple relaxes and chit chats on the verandah as gentle life passes by.
The lady's store pal is a witty work in pinks and purple. It is about the metro sexual Malayali for whom earlier pink was almost taboo in his wardrobe. Colours, hair treatments, jewellery has invaded their psyche and they are indulging in their feminine side. As against handsomeness they have a concept about beauty, he says. The work has a few cosmetic bottles in an otherwise stark background that highlights his observations effectively.
The brightness comes from acrylics and the effect from the ‘oil like treatment' given to them.
Sudipta Das from Assam has used digital imagery and photography to create attractive canvases. She has also used the tea wash treatment smartly in the works on display. The digital oil on canvas, ‘Mahalakshmi' has an instant appeal.
Nagapoornima from Hyderabad is showcasing her works in the city for the first time. A freelance artist she has done her Masters from Gulbarga University. The female form is her inspiration. The young artist says that a woman should be independent and have self respect. Her 14 works in acrylic on acrylic sheets are interesting as she has used paper cut outs and worked around them to create an effect. Two small works in wood- ‘Male and Female' and a work titled ‘Myself', which symbolises thinking reveals the artist's concept on womanhood. In ‘Nabhichakra 1, 2' she works around the sensual navel conveying the bravado of the young, modern woman, whom she champions.
The show is on till February 12.
