Delhi’s art aficionados are in for a treat as over 20 artists from across India and abroad, come together with art that connects directly to the soul. Soulmate: A group art exhibition showcases a collection of paintings by senior, eminent and contemporary artists, on various facets of Indian mythology, culture, life and nature.
The exhibit will be on display at the Visual Arts Gallery at India Habitat Centre from June 1-4. Presented by Easel Stories Art Gallery ‘Soulmate’ is an exhibition which brings together art beyond boundaries. Easel Stories is a gallery, an open studio and an art camp, all rolled into one spread over a three-floor open-plan space in Noida.
“Promoting Indian art and artists has been the top initiative and ‘Soulmate’ is a small step towards it. From paintings revolving around religious topics to abstract ones, Indian artists have explored the many arenas and aspects of life and it is these varied expressions of art, that we try to bring to art connoisseurs through these exhibitions,” says Pranav Chandra, director, Easel Stories Art Gallery.
The exhibition has an impressive line up including artist Sujata Bajaj, a protégé of world-renowned artist HS Raza. Her fascination with the lord of beginnings, Ganesha, is abiding. Her art explores the Ganpati as the endless, as she feels a sense of complete freedom and liberty in abstracting his image.
Another artist on the list is Bratin Khan who is a master at depicting traditional and folklore themes and brings alive the themes of Indian mythology. Fragile, emotive and rich in colour and details Bratin’s works use the traditional method of tempera painting, which draws inspiration from the Indian miniatures.
Simple but evocative, Arpan Bhowmik’s art is a study in contrast. His largely monochromatic cityscapes have a splash of colour thrown in ever so often, which gives his art a surreal effect. Bhowmik’s paintings showcase the vintage theme of the heritage city of Kolkata, bringing the city and its humdrum affairs to life with his brushstrokes.
Painter and collagist, G. Subramanian uses the medium of collage and layers it along with acrylic paint and ink washes in brilliant hues to create mixed media works. The inspiration for Subramanian’s works is the innocence and divine beauty in a child’s face and the power of Indian mythology.
Pune based Sandeep Chhatraband loves to portray the ghats of Varanasi using water colours and acrylics on canvas. His series is an ode to the city as he paints the unique, tranquil and vivid ghats with their ever-changing hues, the flow and crowd of people and their stories.
Curated by Renu Khera, the show is an amalgamation of Indian talent world over. “‘Soulmate’ has been a journey of bringing together over 20 artists from all over India under one roof which was truly a memorable experience,” said Khera.