<p>Rustic Sensibility’, an exhibition of oil and acrylic paintings by D S Chougale, was recently inaugurated at Rangoli Art Centre, MG Road. The artist, belonging to Belagavi, is a contemporary playwright and literary figure in Kannada, who is presently a professor in a degree college there.<br /><br />“My interest in painting began when I was in high school. My art teacher and mentor, A P Patil, who held a degree from the prestigious JJ School of Fine Arts, noticed my sketches and encouraged me immensely. He inculcated in me a sense of colour. I was actively involved in painting even during college and imbibed the saying, ‘See and understand, practise and perfect it’. I also studied the works of senior contemporary artists. Gradually, I formed my own identity and there has been no looking back since,” says Chougale.<br /><br />The exhibition depicts the sensibility of rural areas and captures the people, culture and rituals in the villages. There are about 32 works on display and sale, a mix of oil and acrylic on canvas. “This exhibition has paintings that I have worked on since 2014,” says the artist.<br />Ask him about some of his favourite works and he highlights, “There is an abstract acrylic work — it has an evening skylit backdrop with huts in front and there is some light coming from there. <br /><br />It’s that entire image which I’ve tried to depict. Then there is a villagescape in acrylic, of a lone big old bungalow; I have attempted to portray its image and depth. <br /><br />An oil painting of a female labourer working in a tobacco godown, holding a basket in her hand, is also a memorable one. There is a villagescape in oil where I have done knife work. There are also these two paintings showing the ritualistic priests who are often seen in North Karnataka and South Maharashtra,” says Chougale.<br /><br />Gomathi Gowda, the curator of the exhibition, feels that the artist has done a fabulous job. “To get these strokes and the vibrancy of colours in oil is a feat in itself. He has tried to recreate and rebuild a lot of traditional indigenous values through the portrayal of themes related to rustic life,” she says.<br /><br />“It is a really nice exhibition. I haven’t seen abstract oil paintings with a rural theme earlier, it is quite rare. Even the ‘Devadasi’ concept has been portrayed really well,” said Milind, a visitor to the exhibition.<br /><br />‘Rustic Sensibility’ will be on display today and tomorrow at Rangoli Art Centre.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Rustic Sensibility’, an exhibition of oil and acrylic paintings by D S Chougale, was recently inaugurated at Rangoli Art Centre, MG Road. The artist, belonging to Belagavi, is a contemporary playwright and literary figure in Kannada, who is presently a professor in a degree college there.<br /><br />“My interest in painting began when I was in high school. My art teacher and mentor, A P Patil, who held a degree from the prestigious JJ School of Fine Arts, noticed my sketches and encouraged me immensely. He inculcated in me a sense of colour. I was actively involved in painting even during college and imbibed the saying, ‘See and understand, practise and perfect it’. I also studied the works of senior contemporary artists. Gradually, I formed my own identity and there has been no looking back since,” says Chougale.<br /><br />The exhibition depicts the sensibility of rural areas and captures the people, culture and rituals in the villages. There are about 32 works on display and sale, a mix of oil and acrylic on canvas. “This exhibition has paintings that I have worked on since 2014,” says the artist.<br />Ask him about some of his favourite works and he highlights, “There is an abstract acrylic work — it has an evening skylit backdrop with huts in front and there is some light coming from there. <br /><br />It’s that entire image which I’ve tried to depict. Then there is a villagescape in acrylic, of a lone big old bungalow; I have attempted to portray its image and depth. <br /><br />An oil painting of a female labourer working in a tobacco godown, holding a basket in her hand, is also a memorable one. There is a villagescape in oil where I have done knife work. There are also these two paintings showing the ritualistic priests who are often seen in North Karnataka and South Maharashtra,” says Chougale.<br /><br />Gomathi Gowda, the curator of the exhibition, feels that the artist has done a fabulous job. “To get these strokes and the vibrancy of colours in oil is a feat in itself. He has tried to recreate and rebuild a lot of traditional indigenous values through the portrayal of themes related to rustic life,” she says.<br /><br />“It is a really nice exhibition. I haven’t seen abstract oil paintings with a rural theme earlier, it is quite rare. Even the ‘Devadasi’ concept has been portrayed really well,” said Milind, a visitor to the exhibition.<br /><br />‘Rustic Sensibility’ will be on display today and tomorrow at Rangoli Art Centre.<br /><br /></p>
