Honouring the word

Guru Nanak’s teachings of equality carry tremendous importance even today. Yet, in some parts of the country, his teachings have gathered dust and been forgotten.

In order to revive the spirit of Guru Nanak’s words, an exhibition titled ‘My Nanak’ was held at the Gallerie Nvya, where 18 artists displayed their works. While the subject of the exhibition was Guru Nanak’s teachings, the artists brought it alive with their own interpretation of his life, learning and his journey. The artists on display were: Aditya Basak, Arpana Caur, Dr Seema Bhalla, Gurpreet Singh, among other revered names.

The artists incorporate different mediums to showcase their works. Along with the regular canvas, there were mediums like paper, bronze, fibre and new media. The paintings boasted of great variety: the using of oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas and works on mixed media bathed the art in a unique light. Apart from diverse mediums, the interpretations of the guru on display also saw a varying range.

Tripat Kalra, the director, says that the fondest memories she had of him were of his teachings that she inculcated into her childhood. These works are an embodiment of these very childhood memories. She elucidates further, “They (the artwork) bring in a certain aspect that takes me back to that time. The artists were portraying the same idea, but they were saying them in a different manner.”

When asked about whether these paintings laid emphasis on the erasure of these ideas in the modern day, she replies, “It is a fact that we have forgotten a lot of great men’s teachings. These things (works) remind us about why don’t we look into these things.”

As these paintings depict the guru, there is a certain way in which they need to be looked at. She explains further, “If you are standing in front of a painting and viewing it, you go into a painting — you go into what the subject is, you look at the way it’s being treated (in terms of the medium used), created and executed. Then, you look at the story behind it.” She then points out that each of these works tells its own story, since they have been taken from history.

Touching upon the work of one of the artists on display, she speaks of Paresh Maity’s oil on canvas painting. Based on the golden sayings “Naam Japo, Kirat Karo, Vand Chhako”, it extends the idea that everyone, irrespective of their caste, and creed partakes in the food being served. She adds that all three golden rules were obvious in this painting. In enlightening interpretations, themes and mediums, the paintings of this exhibit brought to life the loved Guru Nanak’s teachings.