Art gets bookish

Inspired by works of literature, a group of Indian contemporary artists are showcasing a collection of paintings in an exhibition titled ‘Booked! Books meet Art’.

Works have been selected for their narrative or story-telling content, shares Monica Jain, the curator of the show and adds, “Books generally follow a pattern of narrative. I wanted to induce this sense of narration into all the works of art.”

Some popular works displayed here source their inspirations from popular tales such as Kalidas’s Shakuntalam, The Mahabharata and even rural folklore. Participating artists like Seema Kohli, Durga Kainthola, Kanchan Chander and Nayanaa Kanodia amongst others have recreated works of art inspired by books. “Many of these artists have also traveled back in time, to bridge the gap between our culturally rich mythologies and modern forms of art,” points out Monica.

Talking about the works, she says, \"Each artist has his/her own interpretation of the theme. Like artist Kanchan Chander’s work is a unique amalgamation of art and travelogue. On the other hand, Shivanand Shyagoti’s ‘The Search Never Ends’, depicts a young lad’s relentless search for the right book only to realise that the search truly never ends. Greece-based artist Heleni Stoeling designed the ‘Women Reading’, a delicate artwork that is reminiscent of classical Greek statues.

The show is on till June 10 at Art Centrix Space