JOIN USThe art lovers in the City were treated to an enviable body of artwork during ‘Art Bengaluru 2013’, which kick-started in the City recently. The show featured the works of over 100 artists from 17 galleries. The fourth edition of the show is put together by The Collection, UB City along with Sublime Galleria and Art Chutney.
The evening began with popular artist Thota Tharrani showcasing his work
designed around the theme of ‘Reflections’. The evening also featured ‘Body Art Dancers’, who portrayed the same theme.
SA Vimala Nathan, a full-time painter, whose work is on display, says that it depicts enlightenment. “I have used different fabrics as well as a lot of cut-piece work to create a different effect. I started working two months prior to the show,” he says.
The Resilient ‘I’ by artist Neha Mehta displays art work made from stainless steel, copper, brass and teak. “Sometimes adversity is the only way to bring out the best in an individual. This strength exists but remains dormant in everyone. It is only resilience that will pull them through,” she explains.
Experimenting on window and door panels, artist Aarti Karwayun Chawda focusses on ethnic art work. “I grew up in Jaipur and a lot of my work has bright colours. I pick up old windows and door panels and paint on them. The themes are usually Mughal or Rajput,” she observes. “Also on display are charcoal art works, where I have used old pictures and worked around them. I take old photographs, particularly those with pictures of women and paint on them. It looks transformed,” she explains.
Artist Elena Pereira’s creation of an umbrella, with cut-up plates, grabbed a lot of eyeballs. “Usually an umbrella reflects light but I want to portray how it is scattered. I have used 30 plates in my creation,” she explains. She spent more than two months working on this project.
Elena’s work has a lot of mirrors. “Although I like working with shiny surfaces, I don’t restrict myself to any particular material. It’s interesting to observe the number of shapes that can be created from just about any material,” she says.
Explaining the nuances of a metal bird created by her, Elena reasons, “It’s like an urban bird which has been captured in a cage and is yearning to fly. The strength of freedom is signified through its wings.”
The exhibition is a treat for shoppers and art enthusiasts. “There is a lot of variety. The material and colours that have been used are interesting. I hope to come back again,” says Vijaya, a visitor at the exhibition.
The exhibition is on till August 23.