18 artists dip into the same palette

If you have something important to say or sell then you need a right platform, and this tendency to be heard and seen is more prominent if you are an artist. “Grains of Canvas” is trying just that — lending a helping hand to those artists who need a break and a platform to showcase their talent.

Passion for art and the urge to express with colours on canvas has brought 18 artists under one roof and leading them is “Grains of Canvas”, as it is showcasing a group art show titled “Sublimation”. The show was inaugurated at the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) under the guidance of Dileep Sharma, president, “Grains of Canvas”.

Sublimation is to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially acceptable. And this is what the exhibition aims to do — to not only give an opportunity to the artists, but also to make art more accessible and affordable.

“When an artist starts out there is a lot of confusion in his/her mind in terms of displaying their work We started out in 2010 and our target is to simply guide them and give them a chance,” says Sharma.

He adds: “In “Sublimation”, we have artists from different backgrounds and age groups — from 17 to 70 years of age — who have come together to showcase their creative expressions. The highlight of this exhibition is that you find different styles, different media and different concepts all under one roof. It is amazing to see the variety of paintings. It shows the experience of artists like Meetu Kapoor, Manju Thakur, Kanchan Mehra, Megha Vij or Mona Chaddha, who runs her own painting school, and it has an Army veteran like Col. R.K.P. Singh who is participating for the first time. “Grains of Canvas” has artists working in two or three institutes. They work for a few days of the week together, as well as at their homes. But it is the group workshop that brings out the best in them. For, it leads to some discipline and their interactions inspire each other.

“‘Grains of Canvas’ is a great opportunity for all like-minded people to come together as it helps us portray whatever we want coherently... The presence of other artists is a catalyst in this process... And this way we are able to spend and give more time to art as we are able to discuss and sit for hours together and time just passes by ”

The aim of “Sublimation” is to make art more relevant. Artists often complain that there are few people who understand art and are willing to invest in it. While they may enjoy expensive jewellery and travelling in jazzy cars, when it comes to art, they are reluctant. “This exhibition wants to make art relatable as it grows out of difficult personal experiences,” says Sharma.

The contrasts bring out the best in each artist. It enriches their work. And this contrast is aptly expressed by artist Meetu Kapoor’s paintings. Kapoor started out with abstract paintings in acrylic and gradually she seems to be comfortable with oil on canvas and watercolours.

One of her paintings has a dark setting of a cremation ground with human skulls and, at a distance, one could see a figure in dark blue colour with a crescent moon on his head. The lines are unclear and the images blurred. It’s only by the dark blue colour that one can guess it to be Lord Shiva. The use of colour is brilliant as the darkness of a cremation ground and eerie silence comes out very well.

Another one has Lord Hanuman — the symbol of strength, energy and power — walking confidently with his mace on his shoulder with temples in the background. Here, too, the face and eyes are not very defined and the fiery red and brown colour show the power of Lord Hanuman as if affirming his presence on earth that is described in many Hindu holy books.

Kapoor says that she is inspired by mythology and she attempts to bring out her spiritual side through her work. “I am spiritually inclined and since I am interested in mythology, I have taken to godly figures to show abstractness of life,” says Kapoor. Her paintings attempt to play with different colours and their vibrancy, but she is careful about her strokes and maintains a fine balance.

Artists are also mindful of maintaining a balance when it comes to attracting youngsters. Kapoor says, “A teenager won’t understand abstract art... it is important for us to make easy, relatable paintings and that’s why I have paintings of auto rickshaws, trucks and even a Harley Davidson to get teenagers interested My son is the inspiration behind these ”

We hope that this idea of expression of life through colours and brushes appeals to more and more people. So, more power to “Grains of Canvas”.