Just like the elements in nature which are varied in form but united in their spirit, five contemporary artists in the ongoing show “Elements” at Creativity Art Gallery show us the same world but in different ways through their art.
The show brings together artists like Farhad Hussain, Benoy Varghese, George Martin, Chandra Bhattacharya and Viren Tanwar, who come from distinct artistic backgrounds. For instance, Farhad Hussain presents everyday activities with a dash of humour and sarcasm in his paintings.
The use of bright colours and detailed surroundings add to the satire in his work. Along with strong narratives, he also uses strong iconography and intense imagery in his paintings which bring out the subtle complexities of human relationships on the canvas.
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This is in contrast to George Martin’s work, which is abstract and exudes energy through colours and forms. Martin presents different facets of the world in a way that they all seem to intermingle. The curator of the show, Sonali Ralhan, says that while all the paintings are her favourites, if she had to pick one, it would be of George Martin’s. “Even though there are so many things going on in the painting, his work seems balanced.
It is graphical but at the same time it is abstract,” says Ralhan.
While Hussain and Martin’s work has bright shades, Chandra Bhattacharya’s warm colours with a few vibrant elements are a welcome change. His earthen tones mixed with the technique of crosshatching provide depth to his images and transport the viewer away from the urban world to a rural set-up.
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( The exhibition is on at Creativity Art Gallery, 6, Ground Floor, Hauz Khas Village, till June 7)