Playing to the gallery

The author spends an afternoon at Vinnyasa Art Gallery to find out more about affordable art.

May 24, 2015 07:49 pm | Updated 07:49 pm IST

Artists with their works at the show. Photo: R. Ragu

Artists with their works at the show. Photo: R. Ragu

If only more walls could be raised — concrete structures that aren’t barriers, but windows to a larger world. Cemented with creative and colourful expressions, they give shape to rooms with a view. And that is what the Vinnyasa Art Gallery looks like, with more than 250 works on display as part of its 16th annual affordable art show.

Sitting in her small office where paintings, some wrapped in paper and others ready to be mounted, are piled up in a corner, Viji Nagashwaran is in discussion with senior artist Achuthan Kudallur. She founded this gallery in 1996 to create a space for art; during her days as an artist, she had experienced firsthand how difficult it is to find one. “I was fortunate to have the financial backing of my family to put up my works at group shows around the country and also to hold solo exhibitions,” she says. “But I thought about many of those who do not have such support. It’s not easy at all — creating a set of works, printing invitation cards, reaching out to critics, paying the gallery and sometimes shows going unsold. It can be frustrating if you are not genuinely passionate,” says Viji, who is known in the art fraternity for her nurturing approach and gentle demeanour.

Dressed casually in a cotton salwar kameez, she gets up to pull out a bottle of flavoured milk from the mini refrigerator; just then, a young artist walks in, requesting her to accommodate his paintings. She nods gently and tells him, “Don’t worry, we will try our best.” She then heads to the gallery area with her staff. “Just see,” she points out to me, “Every little space is occupied. But it’s difficult to say no because you realise you are going to put up someone’s dream, imagination and hard work out there for the world to appreciate.”

In an industry so often ruled by elitism and commercialism, Viji has always been keen to showcase works that she believes in. “The idea behind starting this now much-looked-forward-to show in the city was to demonstrate a culture of art celebration, enjoyment and inclusivity. As a gallerist, and one who identifies with the emotions and anxieties of artists, nothing can be more heartening than to see visitors leaving the gallery with a piece of art,” smiles Viji.

The gallery looks like a collage of hues, lines, strokes, themes and mediums. Promising, fresh talent shares the spotlight with established names. So if there are works by M. F. Husain, Achuthan Kudallur, C. Douglas, P. Gopinath, Mark Rathinaraj, R. B. Bhaskaran, and M. Senathipathi, there are also Usha Devi, Shivaram, N. Senthil Kumar, Priya Natarajan, Gayathry, M. Mani, Sathish Kumar and many more. As you go around viewing the engaging works, you feel an instant connect as most of them capture various facets of the city, invite you to experience village life, enable you to see yourself in the everyday milieu, familiarise you with the past, help you appreciate heritage, make you realise the beauty of traditional attire and allow you to contemplate.

According to N. Shanmughasundaram, whose watercolours are on display, “This is an excellent platform to know the minds of art lovers. It also helps you understand the approach of other artists and view your art from a fresh perspective.”

In the current scenario, when the other arts are largely driven by social media, walls still seem to determine the destiny of the paintbrush-wielders. “Hence such collectives are crucial to take our art forward since they bring together artistes, collectors, first-timers and enthusiasts in an authentic manner,” explains Lawrence, who is happy with the response to his Nature-inspired mixed media creations. “It is important to put people at the heart of the gallery experience,” adds his brother, also an artist, Elaiyaraja SAV.

When much of high-art is serving the diktats of market and many works appear overvalued and underwhelming, S. R. Radha, an artiste-turned-collector, says it’s nice to these youngsters coming up with their own palatte without subscribing to any formula. “I have already bought two paintings and would love to buy some more. The collection is eye-grabbing and to quite an extent affordable,” she says.

It is time now to open the doors for the collectors of tomorrow. “We need to initiate the web-savvy new-generation into art appreciation and understand what they get from it and what they want,” emphasises Viji.

“Though artists, gallery owners and show organisers need to prepare themselves for the changes when operating in a digital world, you certainly cannot hang a computer screen instead of a canvas. This art is about the brush with soul,” concludes Azhagesan standing in front of his stunning acrylic works.

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