Art and places that host art have long been synonymous with peace, quiet whispers and silent observation. However, on December 5, the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai painted a contrasting picture. The recently renovated gallery was a showcase of emerging and established artists of the Deccan, at the inauguration of Spotlight on the South with over 60 artists, over 200 of their works and enthusiastic patrons and well-wishers. , This precursor show to the Madras Art Weekend, scheduled between 12 and 15 December, saw a large turnout from Chennai’s small but significant art community.
PS Raman, Advocate General of Tamil Nadu and chief guest of the event, said, “Chennai has been the cultural capital of India, especially for the performing arts. With such initiatives, the scope of art is going to rise further.” DMK national spokesperson Dharanidharan Selvam was also a part of the inauguration.
A view from the exhibition
Aiming to showcase artists whose talents would benefit from greater representation, the show features a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography and more. On one wall, in front of the majestic High Court standing on scaffolding, like the quintessential image of Chennai created by Ashwin J Chandran, a cycle rickshaw is in motion. Another subtle canvas of Rohini Mani shows a woman imitating the form of a lotus, whose face is so pensive that it contrasts with the soothing, deep pink color of her sari. Another grand stone sculpture by Ezilarasan Ezhumale is a gray structure with books placed in its crevices. Narayana Lakshman’s canvases invoke a serene depth, broken only by a stray boat, a tiny dot in a large expanse of blue and white.
A view from the exhibition
Upasana Asrani, curator of the show, says, “Our aim has always been to provide a platform for artists who deserve recognition but lack the means to shine. Artists from the South deserve representation and some of those exhibiting here have never been represented by a gallery before.
In collaboration with Madras Art Weekend The Hindu Made of Chennai has organized a spotlight on the South. The show can be seen at Lalit Kala Akademi, Egmore, Chennai from 11 am to 7 pm till 10th December.
published – December 05, 2024 08:36 PM IST
