After the languid and not very stimulating monsoon months, the Kolkata art scene is abuzz once again. A few good solo exhibitions and an excellent GenNext IV haw done much to provide the viewing public with some unexpected treats. Quite a few of the works at GenNext IV, organised by Aakriti Art Gallery from 1-31 October, explored intriguing themes of escapism, vulnerability and artificiality versus authenticity. On the whole, the sculptural arrangements and digital works were of a higher standard than the paintings (Atul Mahajan, Nantu Behari Das and Partha Guin being the best examples) but some paintings like those of Sagar Bhowmick were no less impressive and were, in fact, penetrating explorations of vulnerability as both tangible and a mirage.
