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EMPTY AND FULL
Six artists presented in this show have significantly contributed to the contemporary Indian art, with their innovative use of the pictorial language, and have made a new beginning in terms of visual vocabulary. They are eager to explore their artistic tools, a 'terrain' and firmament which in itself seems to be waiting to reveal certain potent images'. Marks, signs and imprints which germinate in their works, do not belong to any set of pre-conceived notions, or to any pre-meditated course, instead these are like 'found objects' which evoke memories and emotions. These are not 'auto suggestions' either; these are in fact explorations and perceptions, which enliven aesthetic sensibilities and make one more aware about the world. The method of exploration used by each artist is very distinct. The way the 'findings' are deposited in a particular work, with alacrity, is singular from one to the other. Thus the show offers not just six important artists of a generation, it offers six different sets of listening, perceiving and registering certain momentous happenings. It is not the style per se of the artists, which enchants and mesmerises us, but their sensitive handling of the works, and forces to fix our gaze time and again on every tiny detail. The pigment plays a very vital role in these works, as it is through colours and their translucent light and textures that one is able to grasp emotively the mood of a particular work.
In most of these works nothing seems to denote 'form', be it figurative or non-figurative; only signs, marks, signifiers, do appear, hence these are not 'abstract works' in the conventional sense, dealing with certain forms. What one finds here can be’re-constructed' and decoded in an allegorical manner through the 'observable' signs, marks and tonal variations pervading the canvas.
The way one comes across or notices, pieces of a comb or a glass or a bottle by the roadside, or pieces of paper strewn by the blowing wind, while taking a walk; or sees sun-rays filtering through clouds or an animal behind a tree-trunk, or a storm gathering under sky, and he/she is able to construct certain emotive 'realities' pertaining to each of these entities; likewise one can build up one's own concretion, born out of these images and signs. These pieces of a ‘whole’ may also allude to a variety of intellectual, emotional co-relations, and may correspond to perceptions advocated by the viewer. Here, I would like to offer some of mine, which have enraptured me. I have been following the works of all these artists for many years now and find them refreshingly evocative and potent.
Yogendra Tripathi offers visions of parched and moist earth, or a ground filled with an imminent light or some marks seen by a voyager; hinting that much more is to be unearthed. His works are also absorbing in their figurine feel. Samindranath's findings suggest some turbulence in the atmospheric realm, or indicate towards a capacious horizon. Akhilesh seems to follow a sign, step by step, giving us a feel that any single entity has multiple facets, and when daubed in colour becomes even more emotive; Sunil De has his own way of marking-demarking and joining-disjoining some calligraphic signs and signifiers, as an archaeologist does for his study. Amitava Dhar deals with many a part of different entities, which have got merged in to one another, intently. Manish Pushkale in his own chromatic vision gives credence to a search, which traverses through many layers and unearths certain marks and signs of significance.
These artists also bring in their work transmutability, a lightness of being, a dream like ambience and a spirit which can soar high, and then come down to the earth with ease. Thus soaring in the sky or being grounded on earth, the works have a winsome presence. One can rejoice in their daring painterly acts, and ventures; and in their creative endevours.
August 2008
Prayag Shukla
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