The latest exhibition presented by Empty 10 and 1x1 Art Gallery showcases the work of leading contemporary Indian artists, G.R. Iranna, Manjunath Kamath, Rajan Krishnan and Vivek Vilasini. The paintings, installations and photographic works featured in the show reflect the unconventional, experimental and interdisciplinary approach of these artists, and express their perspectives on various social and political issues.
Kamath’s colour intensive paintings blend fantasy and reality to create visual narratives that are open to multiple interpretations. His compositions feature seemingly unconnected figures and objects spread across the canvas in a linear arrangement. But these fragments combine to form complex, layered and meaningful stories. An example of his witty and playful style is “Red”, a painting with a bright red background featuring a piano, a monkey seated in a chair, a chandelier, a man holding a bird, and a dog that seems to have just stepped out of the canvas. Through this simple visual vocabulary the artist portrays various social, economic and political structures and conveys the desire of ordinary people to break free from the constraints of these structures.
Iranna’s paintings also represent contemporary human experiences and concerns. The artist often uses bruised textures and sharp edges in his work to depict pain. “I see my work as a documentation of historical reality and look for clues about social changes through it,” he says. His works in the show include a thought-provoking watercolour-on-paper painting, depicting saffron clad monks walking across the shadow of the grills of a huge gate. The evocative image speaks about transition, about the struggle between the worldly and spiritual self that exists within every human being, and about the yearning for liberation in every soul.
Krishnan’s paintings are inspired by the lush landscape in Kerala, a state in southern India. His nostalgic paintings depict the fields and villages where he grew up. But they also comment on the sudden and sweeping changes wrought on the landscape he has known and loved since childhood.
Vilasini’s work also reflects his connection with Kerala. His carefully staged photographs, such as “Goya Shoot-out”, are inspired by famous paintings by great masters. But the men in the pictures are wearing lungis or Kathakali dance costumes, and they are enacting contemporary dilemmas and political tensions. Thus the artist uses references to the history of art and local expressions of cultural identity to comment on social structures in contemporary Indian society, and the impact of rapid globalisation on these structures.
The show will run at Empty 10 gallery, Al Quoz until June 19.
Box:
For connoisseurs of Indian art, the recently opened 1x1 Stock Room is a welcome addition to the Middle East centric Dubai art scene. Located in a warehouse in Al Quoz (opposite Empty 10 gallery) the Stock Room is a private, by invitation only, space, where visitors can view 1x1 Art Gallery’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary Indian art. The well-designed space features an exhibition area where selected works from the gallery’s stocks are displayed; a storage area with pulley racks that allow easy access to the artworks; and a comfortable lounge, where visitors can browse through the gallery’s extensive collection of books and catalogues on Indian art.
1x1 Art Gallery is one of the oldest galleries in Dubai and one of the few that specialises in Indian art. The collection in the Stock Room reflects the fact that for over two decades the gallery has been working closely with well-known modern and contemporary Indian artists such as Anju Dodiya, Badri Narayan, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Biju Joze, Bose Krishnamachari, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, Jagganath Panda, Jogen Chowdhury, Laxma Goud, M.F. Hussain, Ram Kumar, Gigi Scaria, Manjit Bawa, Mithu Sen, N.S. Bendre, Paresh Maity, Riyas Komu and many others.
“Our gallery exhibitions are now focused on a new generation of contemporary artists. But we do have a large collection of paintings, installations and sculptures by famous artists from the previous generation in our stocks. We also have some rare, museum quality works by modern masters such as ‘Raga’ — a black and white painting from 1959 by M.F. Hussain; an acrylic on canvas painting from Jagdish Swaminathan’s iconic ‘Bird Mountain Tree’ series; a signature ‘Metascape’ by Akbar Padamsee; and important early works by Jehangir Sabavala, S.H. Raza and other artists. The Stock Room is an informal space where people can come to view these works, read books, watch films and discuss art,” says Malini Gulrajani, founder-director of 1x1 Art Gallery.
Gulrajani believes that this initiative will help her to cater better to the changing art market in the region. “Collectors of all nationalities are now getting interested in Indian art. They can see the work of a new generation of Indian artists in the exhibitions at our soon to open new gallery. But by seeing the work of artists who laid the foundation of contemporary Indian art in the post colonial era, they can get a deeper understanding of the history and diversity of Indian art. I want to invite everybody who is interested in Indian art to visit our Stock Room and enjoy the art, books and films we have here,” she says.
1x1 Stock Room is open by appointment only. For appointments write to 1x1artgallery@gmail.com
