A rare display by Gallerie Ganesha showcases works by veterans like Ganesh Pyne, Jamini Roy, Jogen Chowdhury, which were created over a century
In one corner of the gallery you will come across the descriptive landscapes painted by MK Parandekar and on the other you will get a glimpse of the city life of Calcutta of the 1960s through the canvas of Shyamal Dutta Ray. Displayed alongside are the bold paintings of Paresh Maity and Neelkant Choudhary’s work, which are an innovation of the Madhubani art. To celebrate its 25 years Gallerie Ganesha has curated some of the best artworks exhibited over the years. Titled Tracing Art through a Century, the exhibits encompass artworks of stalwarts like Gopal Ghose, KS Kulkarni and also new artists like Avijit Dutta.
The show brings out lesser-known facts about the artists. Dutta Ray was instrumental in adding depth and intensity to the medium of water colour at a time when the Bengal school of Art traditionally used light and watery colours. Kulkarni’s work draws inspiration from the folk and primitive art — be it Egyptian, Indian, Mexican or Incan. His skill is evident in the way he works with Indian tradition and can still adapt the art of the Western masters. He said, “But, beyond the influence of Indian culture and its ethos, my horizons are universal. I am interested in the universalising of the human spirit. My concepts are not regional or tribal-spiritual and the material is the matrix of my creative intent. My art comes from within and flows from my perception of the rhythm of life around me in the global context.”
Avijit Dutta’s works on the other hand are strongly rooted in the finest humanist traditions. His visual language on the canvas is infused with myriad meanings. “The many styles and varied artists who have been a part of the gallery’s journey are showcased here, based broadly on their styles and genres. We are showing works of old masters, modernists and contemporary artists. There is also a section dedicated to tribal and folk art which has been an intrinsic part of our journey with many exhibitions dedicated to keeping the folk tradition alive. There are numerous talents that we have promoted and their works are also a part of the exhibit,” said director Shobha Bhatia. The exhibition will continue till March 6.