Chennai | Huge Meditations at Apparao Galleries displays small format artwork

Artwork by Sitikanta Samantsinghar

On a wall at Apparao Galleries, there are 4 summary work by John Tun Sein which might be vibrant and chaotic. Not too far-off, one can spot Chantal Jumel’s Pinpricks Tamil Geometry with intricate kolam patterns on white paper. Parth Kothekar’s intricate papercut artwork in the meantime, makes you cease in your tracks — his use of variances in depth and scale has you peering into the body to absorb his three dimensional structure sequence. 

Huge Meditations, an exhibition on the Apparao Galleries which showcases small format artworks is each fascinating and intriguing, for the range of the artwork on show, in addition to, the wealthy historical past that precedes it. 

Artwork by Dushyant Patel

“Every bit of artwork right here is totally different. This format has meant that we’ve been in a position to deliver collectively and showcase fully totally different narratives, genres and contrasting kinds. The artists featured listed below are a mixture of newer artists and artists I’ve labored with over time,” says Sharan Apparao, director, Apparao Galleries, who has curated the exhibition. 

Small format artworks in India have a historical past, from the courts of the Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari areas the place miniature work thrived. Again then, these works weren’t simply inventive expressions, however cultural paperwork capturing the nuances of courtroom life, mythology and spirituality. 

A blended media piece by Neeraja Chandra Peters

Years later, up to date artists proceed to be impressed by this format and its capability to depict advanced narratives and vivid scenes. They now use it to delve into fashionable themes, as is mirrored within the artwork exhibited at Huge Meditations, which encapsulates various narratives. With 5 work, Megha Joshi’s options the rudraksh bead as a metaphor for the divided self, and the hunt to search out order in chaos. Neeraja Chandra Peters as an example, makes use of summary geometry and has blended media items on show titled ‘decoding the self’, and ‘I’m work in progress’. Depicting 4 otherwise patterned paper mats via gouache on wasli paper, Tanjima Kar Sekh’s sequence sees her discover non secular symbolism and cultural heritage. 

The 20 collaborating artists and their work on show can also be a mirrored image of how the numerous themes they delve into, could be distilled to make compelling statements inside the small format they’re dabbling in. 

Archana Kadam, Dilip Kumar Kesavan, Dushyant Surabhai Patel, Madan Meena, Mayuri Chari, Megha Joshi, Pankaj Saroj, Prabhakar Kolte, Shijo Jacob, Shrinath Ishwaran, Sitikanta Samantsinghar, Vaishali Rastogi, Vanshika Rathi, Yogesh Ramakrishnan, and Yugal Kishore Sharma are among the many artists exhibiting as a part of Huge Meditations.

Artwork by Vaishali Rastogi

 The exhibit will culminate in a symposium on miniatures in Indian artwork, the place Priyani Roy Choudhury, visiting school of Visible Arts, Ashoka College, will ship a sequence of talks on Exploring Huge Meditations, from October 5 to eight. 

“Once we are doing an exhibit of small format artwork, it is extremely essential to speak about miniatures in India, and its historical past. We’re eager on educating and galvanizing, in addition to taking steps to make these talks accessible to a wider viewers,” says Sharan. 

Huge Meditations is on at Apparao Galleries, Wallace Gardens third Avenue until October 8. The symposium on Miniatures in Indian Artwork is on from October 5 to eight. For registrations, contact 28332226 or 28330726