KCP graduates reunite after 20 yrs to exhibit their works

Seven friends, graduates from the 1996 batch of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (KCP), are meeting after 20 long years to share their art works with each other and with the public through an exhibition titled ‘ReGrouped’.

The exhibition starting on Saturday at the Art Complex in their alma mater will be inaugurated by Vasu Dixit, founder of the rock fusion band Swarathma and Prof Pratibha T S, faculty of the College of Visual Arts, KCP. After spending five years together in the Department of Painting during their course in Bachelor of Fine Arts, these artists went out into the world to establish themselves. Social media helped these classmates reconnect.

Sureshachar, the only one in the group who will be displaying photographs and not paintings, formed the WhatsApp group which made this show happen, six months ago.

“Initially, after graduating, I had a lot of challenges in my life. Now when I have finally settled down, I thought of getting back in touch with my batchmates and I looked for them on Facebook.” Passionate about macro photography, he captures images of bugs and insects from close quarters. Of the 11 people in the batch, four of them are abroad and will not be able to attend.

‘ReGrouped’ will also be the first time that the batchmates see each other’s artworks. “In two decades, our styles would have certainly evolved and picked up different influences. It’ll be really interesting to see how everyone has changed,” said Kapila, who has been into painting self-portraits for the past few years.

“Going back to college has a really nice feel to it. We used to have so many discussions back then and when the faculty come to view the exhibition on Saturday, I’m sure it’ll be like just another class,” she added nostalgically.

Clarity in concepts

Speaking about the change she has seen in her own style, Arathi Kulkarni, said, “I have clarity in my concepts now and I am bold about expressing them. I have become more responsible as an artist and sensitive to my surroundings.”

Arathi who has been a lecturer at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, paints using the medium of ink. Her monochrome artworks are self-exploratory in the theme of the relationship between body, mind and soul. “If given a chance, I would run back to Chitrakala Parishath,” she added, reminiscing about hanging out in college with her batchmates and seniors.

The others exhibiting their work at the exhibition are Hiranmayi, Raghavendra K, Jayalakshmi Sonalei Shivaji and Jagadeesha K T.