Reading between the Lines Art Exhibition

Kalakriti Art Gallery comes up with the show titled 'Reading between the Lines' slated from 11 to 30 September 2013. The show brings forth some of the most talented younger Indian contemporary artists- Ashutosh Bhardwaj, Bhagyanath C, Gipin Varghese, Om Soorya, Ravi Kashi, Reji Arackal, Siji R Krishnan, Sujith S N, Suneel Mamadapur, Sunil M Lohar.

The phrase Reading between the lines, means trying to understand the deeper meaning. In this painting exhibition, artists have used visual metaphorical language to express socio-political and philosophical issues which talks about deeper concerns of life. These works give us the infinite space where spectator can explore his own world of imagination.

Baroda based artist Suneel Mamadapur's paintings from the series 'Portrait of a Poet', talks about fables which the artist comes across in his everyday life. Some of the elements in his paintings, like the fallen hand of Buddha, man standing on the edge of a fan, the peacock sitting on a long stool with flowing feather where a dog is resting on top of it, are open to the audience to interpret. It is no doubt an intellectual exercise, yet the fables are simple and have depth in it, while, Reji Arackal's works are embodiments of present human world phenomena where he talks about present socio-political issues and changing ethics of human being. He depicts the delicacies of world, like, a man with a missile, a pin about to prick the balloon, which shows one minute ignorance can destroy everything. Arackal won the French Embassy and Krishnakriti Foundation Fellowship 2008 to study in France.

Ravi Kashi has been awarded the Charles Wallace India Trust Award for a short-term study in the UK. Kashi is an accomplished artist, his photography explorations during his travels in India and across the world employs in his paintings. His compositions have abstract forms, colours, lines and textures seen on the wall posters. Om Soorya paints surreal landscapes which look to be a twilight zone. His works are conceptually strong, talks about social history, literature and culture of Indian society, more specifically Kerala where he belongs to. His paintings depict the micro aspects of these kinds. Soorya has been the recipient of the Emerging Artist Award 2008 given by the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art. Sujith, in his water colours from the series 'Stains of Stimuli' analyzes the history of present Indian urban landscapes. His works speak the growth and depreciation in the ever-changing landscapes he has seen over the years. Suijth is also a recipient of Emerging Artist Award 2011. The artist was also nominated in the long list of the Skoda prize 2011.

Kerala based artist Bhagyanath, as a migrant from rural to urban space he is witnessing and interpreting the urban paradoxes of contemporary life. One of his paintings in the exhibition depicts an amusement park which incorporates within frames of overlapping imageries. His works speaks about human conditions in modern life. At the same time, Sunil's canvases are set against the picturesque backdrop of lush green landscapes with lots of figures making them appear to be in paradoxical situations. The artist depicts some witty sayings used in day to day lives. Sunil is a Bodhi Award Winner 2007.

Gipin Varghese too is a recipient of the Emerging Artist Award 2012. His watercolours are populated with animals, birds and humans. He depicts real life incidents and situations which talks about human struggle for justice, like for instance, the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa and the farmers' suicides in the state. Artist Siji R Krishnan portrays the beautiful relationship shared between a father and a daughter. Her small-scale watercolours on rice paper shows the cherished old memories she had spent with her father in a poetic way. The fineness of her lines and the sensitiveness she has in her works shows her expert handling of the medium fine rice paper on canvas. On the other hand, Baroda based artist Ashutosh Bhardwaj's works revolve around the desires and aspirations of urban middle class people. In the exhibited works, the artist has referred popular media which reflects modern imagination.