Canvases awash with crimson and earth tones greet the visitor at ‘Crimson View,’ an ongoing painting exhibition by Chennai-based artist-filmmaker Gita, at the Alliance Francaise here.
Her works are semi-abstract with influences drawn from the female form, architecture and musical instruments, while they simultaneously explore colour, texture, line and form, she says. “I did a series on Tamil Nadu temple murals so the recent works are a combination of its influences and abstracts,” she says. Ms. Gita has been exhibiting works in India and abroad since the early 1990s, she says. She hopes to take the exhibition to other branches of Alliance Francaise in India.
Ms. Gita is also the programme officer for Dakshinachitra, located off Chennai, where she curates art exhibitions and conducts seminars and workshops on art and architecture.
Ms. Gita, who began making documentary films since 2005, considers it an extension of her work as the films cover the art world. The films have documented contemporary Indian artists, international artists who have worked and found their inspiration in India, artists of the Madras Art Movement and artists’ camps. On Friday, two of Ms. Gita’s films — Red Symphony and Cosmic Blue — will be screened at Alliance Francaise, at 7 p.m.
Red Symphony looks at reputed abstractionist Achuthan Kudallur, and the influence in his works, including the strong reds of traditional Kerala art forms. Cosmic Blue throws light on the works of French artist Chantal Gowa who lives in Auroville. Ms. Gowa has collaborated with the late Roger Anger, chief architect of Auroville, on various projects, and is also the designer-artist of the twelve meditation rooms of the Matrimandir. Ms. Gita is working on two documentaries on Chennai artists P. Douglas and Veera Santhanam.
