Looking at terracotta differently

Primitive

He draws his inspiration from the years he has spend in Shanti Niketan and the fascination he experienced when his father used to come home every day with a bag full of vegetables and fruits.

Even small things like an aluminium kettle or teacups in a shanty tea shop hold importance for him. Expressing these simple yet one-of-their-kind experiences of his life, artist Rahul Madhok chose an unusual medium – not painting or metal but terracotta to give image to his memories. His work has been put on display at ‘Mysterious Terracotta’ at NIV Art Gallery in Neb Sarai.

“As you mould, you will get the desired shape. It is true in the shape of clay modelling and also in the life of a child,” says Rahul. “Expressing myself through sculpture installations and addressing contemporary issues is my priority. Terracotta has its own expression and character which can be used playfully with its feelings and sophistication,” says the artist who has spend eight years in Shanti Niketan, closely observed the beauty of the nature and has tried to give the reflection of the same in his installations.

Rahul has made thousands of dried leaves in terracotta – very realistic ones, which are spread in the centre of the exhibition hall. “It is called ‘Accretion of Red Line’ which I have created to make it look like precious valuable object.” Interestingly, at the other end of the room,  Rahul has arranged hundreds of such leaves in layers. At first glance the installation can leave you awestruck. “This work is called ‘Revived Poetry of Dead Leaves’ through which I have tried to add colours and feelings to dried leaves.”

There were some other interesting items like potatoes and vegetables kept in a tradition weighing machine (taula) and others kept in bags hung on the walls. Also, plants grown in pots were beautifully given shape by the artist and were arranged with the artistically crafted bricks. “I want to impart an iconic value to these mundane everyday experiences. Through this contemporary outlook, approach and application of process a new set of meanings and significance is generated,” says Rahul.

The solo show by Rahul had some artwork from the workshop he had organised with poor kids in the slums. The exhibition also included a group show by 16 women artistes like Alka Raghuvanshi, Anupam Sud, Arpana Kaur, Durga Kainthola, Ela Mukherje, Gogi Saroj Pal, Kanchan Chander, Kavita Nayar, Latika Katt, Manisha Gawade, Nupur Kundu, Pooja Iranna, Seema Kkohli, Shivani Aggrawal, Shruti Gupta Chandra and Vinita Karim.

All these artistes explored a different outlook towards life like Shivani Agarwal’s work was based on ‘Threads’  which  highlights the relationship between tension and release, attachment and separation, bondage and freedom. Similarly, Kavita Nayar’s work narrates the bonding between a mother and child through an umbilical cord.

“The very participation of these enterprising women artists gave the event and medium its due space in the present contemporary art and high level of eclecticism. Their participation is a significant attempt to revive the medium, as it will throw a challenge,” says Rajan Ssripad Phulari, the curator of the month-long exhibition.