“Paintings can speak. They have a language and they convey the meanings the artists give them,” says G.Saravan. He has exhibited his paintings along with Joseph Chacko, Geetha Shree Rajanna and Rebecca S in an exhibition called Illusion of Reality at Art Houz. Saravanan's semi-realistic works are inspired by the happenings in his life, he says. “I started painting from a young age. My father is a sculptor and my brother is an artist. I believe that art runs in my blood”. The struggle between good and evil, Nature and loneliness are the subjects of his art.
Crown by G.Sivasaravanan
Saravanan’s oil painting called ‘Crown’ shows the roots of a tree wrapped around a golden crown. “This is a representation of the Bodhi tree and the crown symbolises good thoughts. The roots stand for negativity that constrict the positive thoughts of an individual. I believe that with introspection and courage, we can be optimistic and better people.” The crown figures again on another acrylic on canvas work where a young girl with a precious crown looks straight out at you. “When I was young, I always dreamt of being an artist. Every morning I used to look into the mirror and tell myself that I can do it.” Saravanan says he believes every individual needs time alone with nature and that is the subject of his painting,Waiting, where a girl stands under a tree surrounded by plants and fluttering butterflies.
Untitled painting by Joseph Chacko
His early life in Kerala influence Chacko's acrylic on canvas paintings, and present his memories of his lush green village. Pointing to an orange strip with patterns of lotus petals in pink on one side of the canvas, that adds a pop of colour to the painting of a woman in black and white, Chacko says, “The lotus is a flower close to my heart, and is one of the first flowers I learnt to draw.” Women and Nature are common subjects of Chacko’s semi-realistic art.
Bengaluru based Rajanna's art shows the transition of a woman from infancy to motherhood. She uses charcoal and watercolour in her art. “I like human forms, so my works are mostly figurative”, she explains. Her painting ‘In the Womb’ shows a baby with fine hair made with gentle brush strokes that make it appear soft.
In the Womb by Geetha Shree Rajanna
There is a baby again cradled in two hands in another painting called Blossom. Yellow, purple, pink, and orange flowers decorate the rest of the canvas. “This shows the birth of a baby, and how she is welcomed to our world by this colourful Nature.” Rajanna attempts to remind the viewers of the murder of Asifa through her painting called Hope. It shows a young girl, standing in a purple background with yellow roses. “The background is inspired by the clothes Asifa was wearing when she was killed. The girl in my drawing is also of Asifa’s age.” Flesh by Flesh shows a pregnant women admiring nature. “I am comparing nature to women. Just like there are different seasons, a woman also has different stages to go through to become a mother”, she explains.
Dream by Rebecca. S
Rebecca’s oil and acrylic works are on the theme ‘Dream’. In one of her painting there is a girl with one of her eyes open and the other covered with her hand.
A bird is in an open cage in the background. “The open eye shows reality, and the bird symbolizes the girl. She should understand that the cage is open and she can fly out to achieve her dreams.” Another painting shows a girl with the top half of her face covered with a big colourful moth. Its wings have patterns in red, orange,purple, black, white, yellow and blue. “Moths are usually dull in colour. This vibrant moth shows that a person’s life can be made colourful and interesting if that person has to will to do it. ”
Info you can use
The exhibition has 21 paintings by the artists
The price range from ₹13000 to ₹30000
On till June 9; 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
@ Art Houz, Jenney’s Residency, Avanashi Road
Call 04224335777 for details
