Journey into the abstract

Works of artist V. Ramesh will be showcased in his first solo exhibition abroad at the American University Museum in Washington

March 27, 2015 07:48 pm | Updated 07:48 pm IST

Dance Lalla

Dance Lalla

Known for the intensity of his figurative work that explores the idea of devotion or ‘bhakti’, artist V Ramesh deftly wields his artist’s brush to gravitate towards an area of abstraction in his latest series of works. The defined images in his earlier works have dissolved. “I have been wondering why this has happened in my works. Perhaps, that’s the ultimate aim of devotion,” says the affable artist during an interaction with MetroPlus at his studio in Vizag.

Nineteen of his works will be showcased in his first solo exhibition abroad at the American University Museum in Washington from April 4 to May 24.

Titled ‘Remembrances of Voices Past’ that includes his new series of six paintings, Ramesh carries this idea of devotion on a visual journey reflecting his fascination for the poetry of four women ‘Bhakti’ poets - Lal Ded from Kashmir (14th century), Karaikkal Ammiyar from Tamil Nadu (5th century), Akka Mahadevi from Karnataka (12th century) and Andal who also hails from Tamil Nadu (5th- 8th century).

“The Bhakti poets speak about the negation of ego with an overriding passion to know the truth through their works. When you negate the ego, you also become all-inclusive and feel the whole world as a part of you. This leads to a better understanding of the world around us. The world is so internalised that you cannot exclude the “others”. That I think is a beautiful idea,” he says.

Elaborating on the idea behind the theme ‘Remembrances of Voices Past’, the artist explains that it is to “remind ourselves that perhaps we need to pause and listen to these voices that have spoken about this kind of inclusiveness in the past.”

“To me it seems rather strange that so many centuries ago, these poets spoke of unity of existence, voiced against patriarchy and spoke for non-violence. Yet after all these centuries, we seem to be fighting over petty issues, motivated and guided by things like greed. What fascinates me about the poets is their search for the truth, to question the existing notions of order of authority in society. As intelligent human beings, we must have a questioning mind. The idea of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ should be questioned,” he says.

Through his works, he explores this idea through varied indirect ways. The absolute figure of the human form in his new artwork series sinks into an abstract imagery. “For instance, the work ‘What is your form?’ is inspired from the poetry of Karaikkal Ammiyar, who actually asks for a boon to be turned as ugly as a skeleton so that no man will look at her with desire,” says the artist. The image was clearly defined in Ramesh’s earlier works. Now it has merged into an abstract form, boundaries are dissolved and you come across a field of energy.

There is a silence about the works of the artist. His canvases ask his viewers questions that take a moment to consider. “A painting after all is not a pretty picture on the wall. Just as a book is not something to keep in your shelf to fill up space. It is something to be read, to be understood and something to change the world. If a work of art lets you pause before it and lets you think, I think its purpose is achieved,” says the artist.

Based in Visakhapatnam, Ramesh has been teaching at the Department of Fine Arts, Andhra University, since 1985. He holds an MFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda. Ramesh was awarded the Sanskriti Award in 1993 and Senior Fellowship from Department of Culture in 1995-97. Speaking about his role as a teacher and an artist, Ramesh explains that there are no clear cut compartments between the two. There is a sort of osmosis percolating into the other, he adds.

After his solo exhibition in the US, he intends to take a break. “It is not a break but a phase where I can reflect on my works and see if I can move towards new directions. Otherwise a work becomes too comfortable. May be I will sit and read or just travel a bit,” says the artist.

Vizag art scene

Ramesh says that Vizag needs to create a space for serious art appreciation to happen. “The whole exercise of entering the space and the interaction between you as a viewer and what is put up there is a complicated thing. We need to have a space like that. The gallery must enhance the message that the artist’s work wants to portray. In fact, AP does not have any such good gallery. We don’t have a culture of exhibiting art,” he says. The Vishnu Manchu Art Foundation’s recent initiative called Sri Vidynikethan at Tirupati is a space that attempts to bridge this gap. Ramesh visited the place recently and expresses optimism in the art foundation’s initiative to promote art in the state. “A vibrant art space in Andhra Pradesh is the need today. Vizag has the only Fine Arts college in the state and has seen extremely talented artists coming out of here. But we still don’t have an art space to exhibit works,” he adds.

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