‘Untitled,’ from a little distance, makes a pretty postcard.
With blue skies and an unending expanse of paddy dotted with egrets, this painting by artist Shijo Jacob stands out among the collection on display at the La Gallery 360 at Nanthancode for another reason. Thin black lines crisscross the landscape, splitting the environment into an ‘international airport,’ an ‘international convention centre,’ a ‘multi-specialty hospital,’ a ‘community centre,’ and other such blocks, indicating urbanisation.
This work perhaps best represents the idea that is ‘Urvi’ — an exhibition of painting by 10 contemporary Malayali artists. Every canvas questions the definition of development and the impact it has on the environment. Some are very telling portraits of the disintegration of moral values in society. The content of the works aside, the exhibition also seeks to promote contemporary art, not as a decorative element alone but as a political force. Minister of Culture K.C. Joseph, who inaugurated the exhibition here on Monday, appreciated this effort and said the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi needed to do a lot more to support young artists.
Mr. Joseph promised an exhibition hall in the city to let young artists to display their work. He also asked the artists present at the exhibition to propose how the government could do more to promote contemporary artists in the State.
The Minister said the renovation of the Sri Chitra Gallery was taking too long and priceless paintings were being stacked unceremoniously in dusty storerooms. The exhibition hall at the Raja Ravi Varma Palace at Kilimanoor would be completed in a couple of months, he added.
Exhibition curator M.L. Johnny spoke of how art was a ‘non-violent and effective way of addressing violence so rampant in the world today.’ Shijo Jacob, A.P. Sunil, Antony Karat, Manoj Vyloor, Aji Adoor, Shaju Nellai, Jyothilal Govind, K.T. Mathai, Dodsey Antony, and Satheesh Kumar are the 10 artists taking part. It is open from 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will conclude on May 16.
