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| Sunday, 20 July 2003 |
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by NEOMI KODIKARA
Various streams join a river, each with its own identity. Every river meets the other in the bosom of the ocean. This is true even to Narmada and Mahaweli. Filled with their own identities, dissimilarities and similarities waters flow in complete harmony. Just like art. A group of 18 young artists from Bhopal portrayed the tenuous connection between the water and art through their works ranging from tribal art to modern concepts at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery recently and seven of them were in the country during the exhibition. These young artists are from Bhopal, a town with a rough-country environment in Madhya Pradesh. "Though their artistic production helped in some way to perpetuate our memory of them, what interests us and is important to us is the discipline and team spirit shown by them through their exhibitions," says Manoranjana Herath, founder of 'Gangcey'. Manoranjana Herath and Sanjeewa Kumara got to know them while they were in India. The true life and aspirations of these young men and women of Bhopal, who spend a 'gipsy-life' in Delhi, were realized by them while in Bhopal, when they saw the gallery of Tribal art and gallery of Modern art built on their own soil and maintained by them. "It is the result of their great endeavour and sacrifice. This is what does not happen in Sri Lanka and 'Gangcey' was formed for the realisation of this dream," he says. 'Gangcey', the very name of their organisation sounds far beyond professionalism and art and connotes the revolutionary, rebellious nature of youth. "That is exactly what we intended, we want to give more opportunities to young artists. Though we have adept, senior artists, unfortunately most of them do not support the aspiring youth, therefore we thought of forming 'Gangcey', to support each other," he says. Talking to the Sunday Observer, Siraj Saxena one of the seven visiting artists, opened up the conversation. Every art that resonates its own identity, passes every manmade barrier to isolate itself from the other beings, he says. Siraj (29) uses ceramic artifacts as a homage to an unknown Sculptor of Kajuraho.
Soft shades of small things; transparent mist, sparkling dew drops, and tiny rain drops mean a world to Sandeep Biswas and Shivani Aggarwal. They are the inspirations behind their work. Just another object with no importance becomes an image with its own identity through the eye of Sandeep's camera. Sandeep likes to focus on the visual quality of the objects. "What themes does he convey?" "I do not philosophise my work," he bluntly replies. "If there is a philosophy behind, it is up to the viewer to discover. More than philosophising, I like to give an identity to those with no identity." Sandeep, an introvert, becomes extrovert only in his work. He is interested in capturing reflection with his camera. He believes that a good photograph comes when a photographer dominates the technology, without letting it dominate him. "I survive on commercial photography and I always keep a balance between my art and commercials. A firm believer of globalisation, he does not relate his art to any particular society, religion or culture. Shivani intermingles painting and sculpture in her delicate and integrated works. "I still have childish ideas, interests and fantasies." Yes, it is evident in her work: she interrelates and weaves mundane, tiny objects like empty match boxes, broken pieces of CDs, coir, pieces of cloths, clay etc. into a whole and an individual identity and a new voice emanates from them. About her themes she says "I have no specific theme, but each of the tiny object is related to my personal life." No doubt her portrayal of her own life portrays the South Asian woman.
Recently entered wedlock Vibha Galhotra (25) is trying to find her own space in marriage. She too considers marriage as quite important and one that involves so many responsibilities. "My husband gives me my space and I give him his space," she says. Her forte is artistic photography not documentary photography. Vibha's photography is not just the object but the manifestation of her mind. She uses her own little space but her work certainly encompasses the vastness of space. Splash of blue on the canvas is the means of expression to Mohan Malviya (31). Blue to him is deep and peaceful setting that calms one's thoughts. While Mohan is preoccupied with blue for the last four years Bhoopendra Singh prefers black. His black canvases remind you of the still, dark depths of river. His canvases are completely black but the majesty and enigma of black with its so many shades and hues talk for themselves. Vishal (24), a painter interested in discovering new depths of art through blending colours and form. His emotional upheaval and intellectual interpretation become the narrative thread that runs through his canvas. 'Gangcey' with a membership of 50 artists, at present focuses on organising events, to give opportunities to young artists in Sri Lanka. The exhibitions are arranged with an aim of promoting cultural exchange and so far two exhibitions have been held in the country. Through these the local artists are exposed to the works outside. "Our artists lack exposure, especially to the works of other modern artists, and our aim is to bridge this gap." |
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