Art is not meant to be just framed or kept in museums; its true essence can be brought out by everyday objects — and this is exactly what the art show Art in Objects at Diara Art Gallery shows.
A chair by artist A. Rajeswar Rao.
Artists have pushed the boundaries and have thought outside the frame. From saris, cushion covers, quilts and even furniture, a group of artists brought to life textiles, ceramic and furniture among other things.
Show curator Atiya Amjad says, “People look at art as something very complex. Through this exhibition, we want to break these ideas associated with art.”
A sofa set by a French artist
Despite this being one of the first functional art exhibitions of the year, the concept is not new to Atiya. She says, “We have been hosting functional art shows since 1998. This time, however, we have worked in tandem with an interior design company and have come forward with a concept of art and interior design together. This is our attempt to view art in functional places like homes and offices”
Some of the works on display are rather new, both for the curator and the artist. Fawad Tamkanat, who works with acrylic on canvas, decided to experiment with a new medium. “This is the first time I have painted on a sari and a dress. It’s a silk sari with black and white work and the dress is off-white. The sari is a signed piece,” he says.
The quilt by artist Manzoor Hussain.
Apart from the sari, artists Fawad, Chippa Sudhakar, A. Rajeswar Rao and Sajid Bin Amar among others will be displaying painted cushions. Another interesting work on display is the 60x90 quilt by artist Manzoor Hussain, an art student from JNTU who took up up textile designing.
“I paint, create my own designs, and then transfer that onto textiles. This quilt is a ‘real patchwork’. I have created it using material from over 1,000 pieces of cloth all painted by me,” explains Manzoor. Then there are coasters by artist Srinivas Chary and a blue sofa set by a French artist.
“Apart from an exhibition, we also wanted to give people an idea of how they can use art at their homes, but with a twist. “For instance, the coasters can be used as an inlay for a coffee table. Just place them and place a glass top over it and it makes for a stunning piece,” says Atiya,
