An art work by Anuradha Nalappat. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Artist Rathi Devi has painted Arikomban, the wild, rice-loving, fire-spirited elephant, on a large canvas illuminated with bright colours. The stunning acrylic and oil painting makes one think about the elephant – its story, its future and perhaps ours (the human race).
The Presence of Absence in Man – The Elephant in the Room, an exhibition curated by artist and poet Anuradha Nalappat and artist Anoop Kamath, forces one to contemplate the idea of ​​life.
A collaborative work by students of Kiliana, Blind School, Aluva and artist Alex Chandy. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Anuradha says in her curatorial note that the elephant in the room here is humans, who live in a constant state of turmoil, which can be violent and destructive. The show, she says, is a way of asking mankind to slow down, think and find compassion within ourselves.
The work of the 60 artists in the show is diverse in style, treatment and presentation. Most of them are big and impressive too.
Establishment of Anas MJ Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A 9 ft x 7 ft steel and medical foil installation, ‘Anchors and Wings’ by Anas MJ, sets the mood. A deeply personal work, undertaken after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (a progressive brain condition that causes problems with movement), Annas used medical foil to create sculptural wings, which he completed in 10 Kept it for more than a year. Enas, who had to be on medication all his life, has been collecting drug foil for the last 22 years. While it depicts the constant struggle between sinking and rising, the sculpture also symbolizes hope.
The show includes painting, sculpture, installation and photography. The show opens a window into each artist’s creative process. Katie Mathai’s subtle work ‘Nobody’s Scenes’ brings with it a 3D quality, while Hariharan S’s photo art/archival prints address feminist concerns and notions of identity with equal delight.
The works on display give visitors something to contemplate. For example, Nandakumar PK’s untitled bronze sculpture of a sleeping man is an exploration of the human body along with other objects by the sculptor. By juxtaposing elements of nature with sculpted figures, the sculptor attempts to establish the unity of everything in nature.
Installation by students of Blind School, Aluva with Alex Chandy | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The show also includes works by students with disabilities. There is a grand sculpture of an elephant-bird in the center of the gallery hall. ‘Kiliyana’, a collaborative work with students of School for the Blind Aluva and visual artist Alex Chandy, the sculpture has the body of a bird and the head of an elephant. Another installation by Alex also features works of students from the School for the Blind, Aluva. The work titled ‘Insights of Visually Impaired Children’ is a large circular rotating disc on which small clay sculptures made by students are placed.
The exhibit is a fundraiser for the Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy, an animal welfare organization.
It will run till December 10 at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi.
published – December 05, 2024 08:11 PM IST
