Jain Spirit 2005 12 No24

SR No.: 529004
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 102
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 21 MB

Page 67

M
odern life is driven by routine. Much of it is spent at work or in the home or school. While the routines create discipline, they also create prisons. Hence the opportunity to attend an art exhibition was for me a welcome break from routine and I was enveloped by colours and creativity from the moment I entered.
As part of my journalism course, I undertook a week of work experience in the offices of Jain Spirit. I really love art that has even a hint of ethnicity to it, and got the opportunity to write an article on an exhibition in London. The exhibition was intriguingly called Colours of Karma and was held in February at The Private Gallery, London, UK.
Launched in 1994, co-founders Abhilasha Mehta and Neha Sanghrajaka of Reflections-Art are the innovative vision behind the expo. Abhilasha Mehta states that their aim is "to create an international platform for award winning artists as well as for up and coming artists from the South Asian subcontinent. Art shows and exhibitions in London do not truly reflect the diversity of artists from the South Asian region, therefore regular exhibitions from different ethnic backgrounds help to give a voice to those who are not given an opportunity in mainstream art."
A key struggle for any artist is one of self-promotion and publicity. The image of the penniless, isolated artist is sadly not a myth and it is easy to see how ethnic art has even more difficulty to be shown here in the West. The ethos of Reflections-Art to bridge the gap between such boundaries is explicitly displayed in their bi-annual shows, focusing on individual as well as group artists. The hardest part is, in actual fact, not so much bringing artists together but deciding on a theme which includes a wide range of work to reflect the different aspects of South Asia.
Abhilasha Mehta said: "We want our exhibitions and website to reflect an array of artists who depict multicultural and dynamic South Asia in different forms. Religion, lifestyle, environment and globalisation are affecting the South Asian subcontinent in different ways and are represented in different forms in the art of that region. At Reflections we want to represent the art and their artists and thereby provide a glimpse of reflection of the South Asian ifestyle."
Colours of Karma really is the epitome of the overarching aim to convey the different facets of Asian life through the medium of art. Paintings by renowned
masters and of fresh talent from India and Sri Lanka were proudly displayed: Stanley Kirinde, Bairu Raghuram, Subrata Gangopadhyay, P. A. Dhond, Chandra Bhattacharjee, Madhuri Bhadhuri, Shehan Madawela, Druwinka Madawela, Laxman Aelay, Gopal Adivekar, Partho Shaw and Rameshwar Singh.
Shalini Ganendra, director of The Private Gallery said: "The title for the exhibition reflected the diversity of the works, the varying 'Colours' all from South Asia and 'Karma' being the most representative of common spirituality and philosophy for this region."
Walking into the gallery felt like entering another world and that for me is always a good sign. Being able to escape into an alternative culture and even identity, makes you feel the artist has touched you as well as the canvas! Each individual work really was just thatindividual and revealed a poignant insight of its creator's life and history, evident in titles such as: The Balance of Peace, Turquoise Temple and Looking at Me. What was immediately striking was the eclectic mix of paintings in form and medium. The wide range of mediums included acrylics, oils, pen, ink and water drawings, etchings and watercolours. Along with the conventional use of canvas and paper as backdrops so were bamboo paper, Nepalese rice paper and even beaten gold. This all added to the sense of timelessness inherent in art and historical beauty.
In all the paintings, the spectrum of colour was explored to enhance the striking simplicity and emotion behind the images. For example, in the ethereal Sea Scape works by leading Indian watercolour artist, P. A. Dhond the textual hues of colour and light were effectively played with to depict the transparency and shimmer of water. Bolder and vibrant splashes of colour were used in the acrylic portraits by realist painter Subroto Gangopadhyah. With Pond and Maidens the depicted life-like figures were so real, I felt as if these beautiful ladies were about to walk out of the painting towards me. (Now that's realism!) The significance of faith for all the artists was subtly hinted at throughout the show, epitomised in the calming and peaceful sense of P. A. Dhond's watercolours, and the sense of movement bringing long forgotten memories alive in Subroto Gangopadhyah's paintings. Let's not forget that the region gave birth to the three major religions of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.
Abhilasha explains: "Religion plays a very important part in the subcontinent. We do see this reflected in the artists' work, but more often there are indirect
AKI & LITERATURE
Madhuri Bhaduri The Blue Grotto
oil on canvas 24"x24"
Madhuri Bhaduri Crimson Temple
acrylic on canvas 21"x48"
www.JAINSPIRIT.COM
www.jainellary