Johny Ml of the Odisha Triennial of International Art (OTIA) is encouraging new voices of expression as a form of personal healing, says APARNA BHAllA
When Vincent Van Gogh portrayed the shrieks of his heart and mind on to a canvas that became the Starry Night, he was crying for help and using art as self-expression. Art has the power to be cathartic and it is one of the reasons why art therapy exists today.
“A psychiatrist uses the art of the patient to get to its core and diagnose it. Art is present everywhere. Every person has a way of visual thinking in him or her,” said Johny Ml, curatorial director of Odisha Triennial of International Art (OTIA) that will be exhibited in December 2018.
The triennial will be held in three cities of Odisha, namely Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark. “Even after a person is reintegrated within the so-called normal society after their treatment, he looks up to various forms of art for his/her pleasure. Not only that, art is unique and belongs only to the artist in whichever way he exhibits,” he said.
Art also assists people in portraying experiences that are too traumatic to put into words. It has even been used for therapy for people diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. Many research studies have revealed that artistic self-expression can contribute to rebuilding and continuity of a positive identity.
When artists put their brush on canvas, they open their hearts and are sharing their deepest sense of perfection and ideas that have a power to heal and alter perceptions. This is almost soul enrichment.
The triennial, however, also highlights the scarcity of a market for young artists who don’t receive ample platforms and recognition in India. “The phase between 2000 and 2009 was the phase of disregard for artists. Back then, neither the gallerists nor the artists thought about a triennial or even establishing a market. That was the time when the art market was governed by just 10 per cent commercially successful artists, while the rest were lucky to have their works on display. We only remember artists when they are dead and gone in India. Fortunately, even if the market has not changed, the artist, his visual expression and vocals have matured over a period of time. And we are promoting art as a voice meant tto be expressed and heard irrespective of age or background,” said Johny Ml.
Pinaki Mishra, lok Sabha MP from Odisha, said that the state “has a massive talent and thankfully with OTIA we have been able to acknowledge it. Raghurajpur, the village in Puri, despite being small, has a talent pool larger than anywhere else on this planet. It has emerged as a heritage site with a vast galaxy of talent.”
Some of the art styles that will be displayed will include the patachitra, palm leaf styles, wall and floor decorations and so on. But OTIA looks out more for varied forms and content than particular styles that say nothing in particular.
The exhibition does not have a particular theme but wants to focus on various contemporary and traditional styles of art from India and abroad on a common platform and see how affinities are identified and divergences are marked. OTIA intends to integrate various visual cultural practices while maintaining their distinct qualities. “Artists both young and veteran ones will continue working in their respective styles. However, as the curatorial director I would definitely choose works that would go with the general spirit of our times,” said Johny Ml.
The exhibition will be a 40-day extensive art event, which is expected to refine and enrich the tourism industry of Odisha. There are over 100 prominent artists including Jatin Das, Sudhir Patwardhan, Prabhakar Kolte, Ravinder Reddy, K.S Radhakrishnan whose works will be on display.
The Artists Network for Promoting Indian Culture is the brainchild behind OTIA, the declaration for which was made on June 14 at the NGMA. Rajendra Patil, faculty at the JJ School of Art, has joined as the mentor director of OTIA.