Where science and art meet: “Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art,” Leonardo da Vinci famously said. An artist who is also an ISRO scientist is a rarity in today’s day and age. As we, as Indians, are proud of the launch of Chandrayaan 2 to space, as Bengalureans, we must also feel proud that, we have an ISRO scientist who has taken the plunge into art! Thayada Shamshudeen’s artwork is surreal as well as serene. The sheer ease with which he creates landscapes and still lives is surprising for someone who is busy with his day job most of the time.
‘Objects of Shared Experience’, his solo show at Sublime, is a collection of paintings inspired from experiences that made a vivid cross-pollination between what is perceived and memories of self. The tranquil peace of the Sabarmati Ashram; delicate layers of age and history settled on to heirlooms; the primordial impulse to blend with nature… The collection prompts the viewer to be visually attentive, to be open to evocative experiences and to be inquisitive. Even when the works are not attempting to approximate the real world, they trigger deep emotional links to shared experiences in the viewer. It is an attempt to push the boundaries of human experience, into unexplored realms. A common thread of distinctive brushwork and intuitive colours runs through the works in this collection. Shamshudeen’s work has a tinge of impressionism in them. But by no means is he a maverick. His works has the quality of a well-trained artist with a bright future.
Teacher talents: Art Houz, the gallery, has been consistently curating shows of essence and helping a lot of young artists in realising their dreams. They recently held a show to commemorate their anniversary, which included some big names. The senior artists for the show drew an impressive list of art teachers who have shaped many artists’ careers in the past couple of decades. Artworks by Tejender Singh Baoni, HA Anil Kumar and JMS Mani’s collages. Jayanthi Shegar, the curator of Art Houz, feels that healthy relationships with teachers have imperative, constructive and enduring implications for students’ intellectual and collective development. Teachers who foster good relationships with their students create classroom environments more conducive to learning and meet students’ developmental, emotional and academic needs. The younger artists in the show such as Suresh K, Bharatesh JD, Kanthraj and Mukund, have given some of their best works for display. It is a fitting tribute to the gallery, which has been consistent and creative and we hope it continue to grow from here.
— The writer is an art expert and curator.
