They may be as different as chalk and cheese but they are linked together by their passion for art. And that is what you see at an exhibition of paintings titled ‘The Bridge,' by Suja Anandan and Rajani S.R., both alumnae of RLV College of Fine Arts, Tripunithura. While Suja's works merge sex and spirituality, Rajani joins her experiences with the surroundings. Their approach towards art is different. If Suja uses bold strokes and her style is abstract, Rajani's works contain finer lines and her works, direct.
For Suja, her paintings are not contrived; they come spontaneously. “It's as if my brush has a mind of its own. It is only later when I sit to analyse my works that I realise the themes behind them are sex and spirituality.” The artist draws fruits and vegetables to symbolise sexual organs and geometric forms to depict spirituality, like in her painting ‘Metamorphic reactions.' “I'm a homemaker too so I use images I see around me like that in the kitchen. That is why there are bananas and brinjals on canvas,” says Suja who uses acrylic, ink and spray paint for her canvases.
Hidden layers
Rajani's works are created from mostly charcoal, acrylic and watercolour. Although her frames seem direct, they have hidden layers. Like her canvas ‘Reminder,' for instance. Although it may seem a tad amateurish with her drawings of people resembling that of a child's handiwork, look closer and you will see that there is a reminder in it. But one is unsure if it is on the rising population that should be curbed or if it is on how the girl child is still considered unwanted in some parts of society. Her work consisting of three slates strung together, although simplistic is interesting. While the first slate has a sun, the next has a butterfly and the last a flower. Pollination?, or is it on how life goes on?
Organised by Gowry Art Institute in association with Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum, the exhibition held at Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum is on until November 19 . Contact: 2320666
