KOZHIKODE: Varghese Kalathil does not merely depict the charming side of life, but the unpleasant aspects as well. Over 60 of his paintings are featured in the exhibition dealing with varied global issues being held at Kerala Lalithakala Akademi hall here from November 18 to 24.
"Today's predator becomes tomorrows prey," says Kalathil about the exhibition on the 'Prey Predator' series.
"Illuminations- In the perpetual flow of time" depicts the unchanging politics of the globe while the "Self Portrait with Burning Memories" captivates him the most as he feels like he's a part of it. The artist himself is portrayed with his young daughters on his either side. But this is not what halts one but Alan Kurdi, the lifeless child in a red sweater in the Syrian refugee crisis is painted over the artist's chest. On the other side, a similar stark scene is painted of the famous Kevin Carter photo 'The Girl and the Vulture.' "No one would want to hang such disturbing pictures in their homes, but showing reality is the real political work of an artist," he says.
"The pictures are not kept for pleasure, but real art is to depict the untold truth and reality," he says. Done with oil paint, acrylic, soft pastel and charcoal, every work is done uniquely and takes about 2-3 weeks for completion. One of his works "Orange Prayer" depicts men in orange jumpsuits under gloomy clouds; the painting depicted the deaths of Christians under ISIS.
"The facial expression, especially the weeping face of the woman, touched me," said B.S. Anika, a student. The other series included are The Blooming Spring, The Wings, Prey Predator and many more.
