A group show of over 60 artists explores the meaning of devotion through paintings, sculptures, videos and collages
Devotion has been the refuge for rich and poor alike. It is possibly the most rudimentary of all human emotions, especially because it involves absolute faith, trust, admiration and single-minded dedication irrespective of form or shape. Anu Bajaj’s group show Devotion, showcases more than 60 works of 49 eminent Indian artists, at Gallery Art Positive, lado Serai, from October 15.
“This is the 11th anniversary of our exhibition and we host this show every year with varying artists from around the country. Ours has nothing to do with only being a devotee. The artist’s creation doesn’t have to be related to God; it can be the painter’s devotion to his art, work, faith or even love,” says Bajaj.
The multiple-layered new creations by the artists in this exhibition are besieged with allegorical symbols, brimful with devotion in its varied manifestations. Religious and spiritual leaders, ordinary mortals, objects and natural elements, ideas and aspirations, figure in the spread of different oeuvres, forms and media — each focussing on devotion from a different perspective and in a contemporary context.
Each artist maintains their individuality in this show, while being encompassed by the idea of devotion. Anjolie Ela Menon is an artist whose paintings do not fit into a single category. Of her varied themes, devotion is the one that speaks of both emotion and reaction. Contrasting her work is Paresh Maity, whose creations evoke multi-dimensional elucidations of devotion.
Shampa Sircar Das takes inspiration from the elements such as earth and water for her creations. Chennai-based artist Parvathi Nayar examines devotion through narratives of spatial relationships and Avijit Dutta addresses the subject with a careful observation between the past and the present to build a visual dialogue. Husband and wife duo, Ganesh and Santana Gohain pursue the theme through diverse paths – Ganesh looks it as a journey to infinity and Santana builds textures in her imagery, while being silently evocative too.
Known for his distinct portrayal of human form, Kamar Alam’s work brings forth the emotions hidden beneath the surface laying bare one’s perception of life as a whole. Contrasting this is Shubhra Das’s creations. Her canvases regale the passage of time with both the moment and the future being connected while being sensitive to the atmosphere they were created in.
The participating artists include Anjolie Ela Menon, Abhijit Dutta, Asit Kumar Patnaik, Bhagat Shah, Binoy Varghese, FN Souza, MF Hussain, Vinod Daroz and Venkat Bothsa among many others.
The Devotion exhibition brings across the theme through sculptures, paintings, videos and collages. The show resonates of adulation, faith and commitment not just in terms of religious or godly devotion but also human love, care for the environment, concern for self and society, to exude a complete dedication in some cases.