It was a promise kept. The Chivas Art Experience remained true to the hopes it had raised and turned out to be an invigorating experience at that. The camaraderie among the participant artists that marked the event at the ITC Windsor Sheraton last week, was symptomatic of what the show was in its totality.

Besides addressing issues of new internationalism in arts, it served as a perfect setting for exchange of ideas, encountered varied methods and approaches, and struck out in new and experimental directions.

The live painting session provided the artists the right canvas to showcase the new ground their aesthetics was breaking. With every stroke of brush, they created something new, different and truly provocative. It was an occasion to add new interpretations to traditional, contemporary, and modern art forms.

The artists were at their creative best. Each of them have explored stimulating and sensitive themes with a rare understanding and insight. For Bangalore-based S G Vasudev, the experience was a chance to explore the theatre of life. "It's the sense of space for me, it's almost leading to another higher and more spiritual level," he observed. Folk art and tales inspire him.

The stories of deities, seldom discussed or seen in everyday life gives new meaning to K Muralidharan's canvas. He delves into the ancient texts to enrich his knowledge of iconography and that is evident in his work.

"I chose to expound on Indian mythology. The Devi is the focal point of my work. Women in Indian mythology have always fought for the good. Mythology offers a sea of imagination and I'd like to explore that," explained Muralidharan.

Chandra Bhattacharjee is obsessed with freedom. His oeuvre tells the story of imposed constraints in the cycle of life and death, of freedom to live and grow.

"I try to expose the underdeveloped parts of the country. What I have seen from my travel to parts of Bengal have been put down on canvas," said Chandra. Though simple in appearance, his works are expansive in mood.
The evening was not intended to be didactic. Sharing, interaction, and learning was unstructured, and took place in an informal and spontaneous atmosphere. New ideas, trends, and expressions were shared among the artists and those gathered.

Dancer and interior designer Vani Ganapathy's first impression was the event was like any other art exhibition in the City. "I think we now have an overdose of art exhibitions and launches in the City. It's the same people, the same things that happen at every art show. If this trend continues then art will saturate," felt Vani.

But the Chivas Art Experience, Vani said, had her meeting and seeing artists she had never met before. "The discussions from interesting artists was stimulating. It was nice to hear them out. A rare experience indeed," she added.