Kynkyny’s recent group exhibition on the occasion of Valentine’s Day titled “The New Romantics” showcased the artists’ perspective on the idea of romance, in their signature style.
The exhibition featured artworks in a range of media including acrylic, charcoal, pen and ink, tempera, collage, oil and mixed media.
Basuki Dasgupta’s landscape is a vivid red, signifying romance, with the figures — faces of a man and a woman, painted to appear as one. The canvas itself is rich and textured.
“The concept behind my painting is the relationship between a man and a woman. Two different units are coming together to show that they are one. I believe that when two souls come together with an emotional and logical understanding, something positive can come from it. That is romance,” explains Basuki.
“Life started when the elements of fire and water cam together. They are two extreme powers. But the appearance of love has changed though the form remains the same. I have shown this by making my canvas textured, to show that we live in a rough world today.”
G.Subramanian works with the medium of collage, creating images of the iconic Indian lovers, Radha and Krishna. Subramanian’s figures are rounded, their eyes are closed and they smile dreamily, appearing intoxicated by their togetherness.
“I like painting subjects from Indian tradition and I didn’t want to borrow from the tradition of the miniatures by painting Krishna and his gopis. I have always felt that Radha and Krishna make a nice pair. She’s older than him, she’s more mature and more caring,” says Subramanian, who believes that his work should spread joy.
“And my subjects have their eyes closed because I think it’s more romantic. When you have your eyes closed, your vision becomes infinite. And that’s what I wanted to express through the collage. I believe that it’s the love between a man and a woman that gives life to the earth.”
Sachin Jaltare fills his canvases with smoky, half-formed figures of a man and a woman in a delicate embrace. The only hint of colour, a vivid red, is on their foreheads. Their eyes too are closed, as if they are exist on another plane and their faces express an unfathomable depth
“I represent the Indian deities Shiva and Shakti, as body and energy, through my works. I have always been fascinated by the idea of Shiva Tattva or the supreme consciousness that represents the universe. As I started working I developed my own style of expression. The figures in my paintings are not completely clear, nor are they completely abstract,” he explains.
“And only when Shiva and Parvati, together as energies, can serve the purpose just as a bulb cannot be used without electricity.”
The exhibition also feature works by Basuki Dasgupta, Bakula Nayak, Dhrubajyoti Baral, Doddamani, G. Subramanian, Nishant Dange, Praveen Kumar, Subrata Das and Sachin Jaltare.
“The New Romantics” will be on view until March 8 at Kynkyny, 104 Embassy Squar, 148 Infantry Road. For details, contact 40926202.
