We artists are indestructible; even in a prison, or in a concentration camp, I would be almighty in my own world of art, even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell – Pablo Picasso.
Karnataka has produced a dynasty of artists who have reshaped the art scenario of the state. The art exhibition at the Rangoli - The Metro Art Centre on MG Road, curated by Deepa Subramanian of Galerie De’Arts and organised by BMRCL opened to a thrilling visual and aesthetic treat by noted artists from the state. The art exhibition is an eclectic juxtaposition of artworks from these stalwarts who formed a new vanguard in the fine art scenario of the state. In an essay written by Yusuf Arakkal where he quotes, “At the time I passed out from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat School of Art in the early seventies, there was hardly any concerted movement in the contemporary art scene in Karnataka.” The scenery was more or less the same in other parts of India, too. Apart from a few small groups and individuals working here and there, there was no focused approach by artists together, like what was happening in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh. Thought art was ‘happening’ all over the country, there was no organised movement as such and even if someone wanted to create a movement it would have been difficult for them to because art was yet to emerge as a ‘trade’ in the country. In that scenario, Karnataka was no exception either.
An exception to this was a young contemporary artist group called Samyojita, which was working towards a movement, which had the intention to championing the cause of contemporary art scene in the state. This goes to show how much emphasis these artists had laid to nurture and collaborate with other artists from Karnataka.
Speaking about the art show, Deepa Subramanian says, “At the behest of Mr. UA Vasanth Rao, GM, BMRCL, I am happy to curate the exhibition of 18 artists from the early 60s & 70s. If you notice, there are two generations of artists in the participating list. However what was common to both the generations was the struggle – the struggle at the time when art had no recognition. That was a time when there was no technology, media or galleries to support art, yet these artists by their own merit and by their own effort brought Karnataka’s art to where it is right now.” Gurudas Shenoy adds, “This art show is of tremendous relevance because it is due to the efforts of these artists that art in the state has flourished.” The art show is not just any other art show but an education into the rich artistic history of the state. It consists of works by the late GS Shenoy, Krishna Setty ,Milind Nayak, Jasu Rawal and Pushpa Dravid amongst others. A perfect ode to the late Yusuf Arakkal, and a testimony to the efforts of these artists who have laid the platform for the younger generations to come.
— The writer is an art expert and curator.
