JOIN USGreening the narrative with brushstrokes
Science deals exclusively with things as they are in themselves and art exclusively with things as they affect the human sense and human soul. These words of John Ruskin get a virtual image with Jonathan Longuet’s work Green Graffitis which is on display at the ‘Social Animals’ exhibition, at Alliance Francaise. Created from living plant paint, this special artwork is made from algae which grow on stones, are cultivated and then applied to canvas.
If you don’t believe, look behind the canvas and you’ll find two plastic containers of water constantly supplying water to keep the algae green and fresh on the canvas. “This project invites the audience to rethink about their integration to an ecosystem,” Longuet tells Metrolife. He has worked with lichenologists and several biologists since 2005 to create this intriguing form of artwork.
“A simple microscopic observation of the ‘green graffiti paint' allows us to see territorial wars, scarcity of food, waste management and other problematic issues that we find in the heart of our contemporary civilisations,” says Longuet, who has come all the way from France to exhibit his work.
Rouge another artist from France invites the viewers to understand her language of rediscovering the environment around them, in a poetic and a playful manner. Her work highlights the questions which women across the globe have been raising in their community. On the other hand, Monkey Bird reflects the animal nature on the ramparts of a metropolis. The street art created by young artists Temor and Blow, who also hail from France, uses collective multiplies techniques like stencil, etching, linocut, matter subtraction, design and carvings to create the fables of monkey and bird.
Among the Indian artists, the exhibition has artwork by Priyesh Trivedi, creator of 'Adarsh Balak', an online art project and illustration series, which has amassed a cult following after going viral over the social network in the last eight months.
'Adarsh Balak' which translates to 'Ideal Boy' in Hindi is a parody and critique on the educational posters of the 1980s and early 1990s which were widespread in Indian schools. The series highlight certain issues that the artist feels strongly about narrated in his iconic dark and humorous style of storytelling.
Rahul Gautam explores reality by putting himself in various situations and his confrontation with fantasies like ‘family superhero’, ‘fighter pilot lost in the sky’ and ancient figure of western art. “I use ‘popular icons’ in my works to make an easy connection for the viewer. I try to revisit time and make changes in it,” he says.
Other artists whose work has been put on display are B Ajay Sharma, Rinku Chauhan, Koustav Nag and Narae Jin from South Korea.The exhibition is on view till April 4 at Alliance Francaise, Lodhi Estate, from 10 am to 7 pm.