Taking cue from the High Renaissance period, ten artists have come up with their own commentary on architecture, nature and human emotions
Inspired by the European Renaissance period, ten young artists are displaying variety of artworks, taking cue from the works of icons like leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Though they are not replica of the famous works like that on Sistine Chapel and other classic buildings of Europe, the young Indian artists have contemporaried the theme and cultivated a new line of thought. “At the end of Renaissance period, the works of European painters got highly realistic and they got into landscapes. That period was called High Renaissance.
It was traditionally viewed as a great explosion of creative genius, following a model of art history first proposed by Giorgio Vasari. Even relatively minor painters of the period, such as Fra Bartolomeo and Mariotto Albertinelli, produced works that are still lauded for the harmony of their design and their technique. There were elongated proportions and exaggerated poses in the late works of Michelangelo, Andrea del Sarto and Correggio,” informs Poonam Rana, curator of the exhibition.
“We asked all participating artists to take cue from the High Renaissance period. No artwork redefines the old work or mimic any work of those legendary artists. What these young minds have done is that they have weaved the period as per their own imagination. Apart from the emerging artists, there are some senior participating artists as well,” she adds.
Jamal Ahmed’s works are inspired by the European female figures of the Renaissance age but he transforms them into Indian traditional figures. His muse lies in the century-old look of women from the eastern part of India.
Next to his paintings are Rana’s series of ‘Rejoice’ where the artist has glorified the joy of happiness. In three of her exhibits, women are dancing and sharing a happy space with nature. “This is how one feels when one is excited. It’s like the whole universe is dancing with you. But then you have to be happy about nature and think about the positive things in life,” says Rana. In Rejoice of Surrounding, a woman engages with her surroundings, be it little things or street animals.
The exhibition, organised by Art Shows Unlimited, is on till November 9 at lalit Kala Akademi. “There are many artists who never get a chance to explore and exhibit their talent. We have been presenting such talented artists along with the experienced ones so that they can nurture their skills in the right direction,” says the curator.
A lot of new platforms have emerged for young artists. However, on the flip side, critics allege that it has hampered the quality of art. “Sometimes artists just focus on the economics of market and want to generate profits. Art is not about money.
You cannot do wonders in short period of time. The quality suffers when others things step into the creative space,” sums up the curator.