For artists fresh out of university, getting a chance to display their work isn’t easy. But 20 graduates from the University of Hyderabad, JNAFAU, MSU Baroda and Shantiniketan have achieved this milestone. Coming together for a show, Emerging Palettes, at Shrishti Art Gallery, the graduates displayed 40 artworks.
As you walk through the gallery, each of the artwork stands out. From art that is created on chapattis and etching on glass where the image becomes visible when light passes through it, to paintings on medicine packets... the show had it all. The Mona Lisa artwork by JNAFAU’s Asgar attracted a lot of attention. It was etched on glass, but it wasn’t just another Mona Lisa. The artist etched lines, sometimes thin and thick and the space between the lines formed the image of Mona Lisa. The effect is highlighted by lights fixed behind the image. Asgar says, “I’m inspired by the etching on number plates and that’s where I got the idea.” The artist also displayed another artwork, but he used acrylic glass there.
Among the sculptures, the ones that stood out were those of Harsha Valsan and Anil Xavier. Harsha’s work was inspired by her life on HCU’s campus. One of the sculptures is that of dogs sitting on top of each other. “Anyone who has studied in HCU will know that every lane has plenty of dogs. These dogs become part of your life and so I showed that. The other sculpture is inspired by my friends on the campus who are always creating art,” says Harsha. Both sculptures are made using terracotta, but one was baked in a kiln and the other was baked using cow dung. Anil Xavier’s work was appreciated by many.
An untitled work of a body turned upside down, with two hands sticking out of a box, talks about the state of affairs in society. “In one hand the sculpture is holding a sack of money and in the other a plumb bob that measures how straight a building is. Through this I wanted to show how obsessed we are with money and perfection, even though our lives can be upside down,” says Anil. But the exhibition itself is not new to the city. From the past six years this annual exhibition has been giving young talent a place to showcase their work.
“In the first four years we showcased works of students from the city, but last year we added MSU Baroda and this year we included Shantiniketan,” says Lakshmi Nambiar, owner of the gallery.
