A group exhibition at Gallerie NVYA showcases works based on social and environmental themes. Samiksha Raj reports
Ever wondered where have the green meadows, the azure sky and the little sparrow disappearedIJ The ongoing art exhibition Art for Earth (Kala Care Group) at Gallerie NVYA, Saket, New Delhi (June 10-June 20) provides food for thought to each one of us. Dedicated to the World Environment Day (June 5), the exhibition is centered around the message ‘Care for environment’. “Art is a language. We at Kala Care showcase art works by eminent artists based on social and environmental themes to create awareness about the harm inflicted upon nature by man. Art for Earth is an initiative to draw attention to the unusual weather changes and the resulting environment upheavals,” says Shweta Zharotia, curator of the show. The group art exhibition incorporates experimental art and comprises paintings, sculptures and an installation by 35 established and emerging artists from all over India.
Nature has always been the muse of artists, be it to depict its splendid beauty or to arouse awareness in man. looking back at the eternal relationship between man and nature, the concept behind Art for Earth is to delve deeper into the natural environment and create instinctive behaviour that will sustain a healthy world. Artist Suniyata Khanna has stepped an inch forward and used natural colours as the medium for her artwork titled Prakriti — a blue and green circular painting inspired by the elements of nature. A cynosure of all eyes at the event is the sole installation by artist Shubika lal. Titled Street Sweeper, it is a six feet tall human figure, made of fallen twigs and branches, canvassing for the cause of cleaning the environment and getting rid of elements hostile to nature. Based on themes like nature and woman, living in harmony with nature, the artworks are also abstract representations of the forces of nature. While artist Ragini Sinha’s mix media canvas illustrates sparrows ready for parvaaz, suggesting the fast dwindling number of the nondescript yet lovely bird (especially in Delhi), Tahir Siddiqui’s oil on canvas work has peacock dancing on a cityscape.
Senior artist Sangeeta K Murthy, who has two art exhibits at Art for Earth, says, “I’m an optimist and its positivity that oozes out from all my works. From the past three years, I’ve been working on tortoise and ecology and the message from all my artworks is aimed at protecting the planet.”
Titled Joy of life, both her paintings have the tortoise and tree as the protagonists. The medium is acrylic on canvas and the colours used are majorly scarlet red and crimson, as they possess positive energy. It draws inspiration from Indian mythology where it is believed that lord Vishnu took the avatar of tortoise and carried the whole world on his back. The painting also depicts a man, indicative of the supreme power, and tortoise is symbolic of longevity and prosperity. The artist voices her concern at the state of decreasing plantation and rapidly growing concrete jungles in this age of negligence towards nature.