In a world where people are focusing more and more on themselves, five artists have decided to mark their dissent on this self-centredness. Each of them has a unique way of demonstrating it, though. The exhibition titled Conceptions: Perceptions on Canvas is happening at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Kochi.
“We have known one another for a long time and as we all were interested in the same thing — painting - specifications apart, we decided to conduct an exhibition together,” says Aryadevi Thiyyadi, one among the five. The others are Sarath Lal, Vasudevan Thiyyadi, Ramesh P.P. and Raji Chakravarthi.
The paintings are distinct. What one artist has portrayed is nothing like the other. But what connects them is the love for art and how they perceive it. Aryadevi has a special interest in mural paintings. She says that her familial background of Ayyappan Thiyyattu has indeed influenced her. Sarath Lal is inspired by certain visuals that never leave his mind. “My mind is like a camera. Things sort of get captured and never leave. I paint such images that are imprinted on my mind,” he says. Sarath’s works also are a mystical blend of colours.
The works of Vasudevan Thiyyadi are more connected with the realities of daily life. They try to narrate the story of the unsung. It is clear in two of his works - one with a canoe, supposedly used for fishing, and a man who takes the state of Kerala back to the shore. It is a tribute to the fishing community that came to the rescue of thousands of people during the floods. Another painting shows a busker breastfeeding her child. The works of Ramesh, the fourth one, are all about abstracts. His sketches question the irregularities and chaos in contemporary society. The fifth one, Raji Chakravarthi, is not a debutant and has already conducted two solo exhibitions. She tries to bring innovation in her works.
“We first decided to have a theme-based exhibition. But then it occurred to us that it would limit our possibilities. Thus we decided to pour our minds onto the canvas, everything that we have encountered in life,” says Sarath.
The artists want to stick together even as they move forward. “Even if we start doing solo shows, we wish to stay together and work together at times. And we would also like to widen the circle if someone with similar interests come,” they said.
The exhibition will continue today.
