Medium is the Message

Painting,printmaking,sculpture,ceramic,performance,video art and installation — the artists are free to explore any medium,and in the process,give a new dimension to their work and generate a new experience for viewers as well. The workshop is open to public,and people can watch the entire process of creating a work from scratch. “The idea is to inspire these young artists to create something that they have never done before and think differently,” says sculptor Gagan Vij,who is mentoring this experimental workshop.

An exhibition of the artworks created during the workshop,and a live presentation of how these works were created will be held at the gallery on March 25,says Rajan Shripad Fulari,coordinator,designer and conceptualiser of the workshop.

Meanwhile,the artists are busy on their work tables,with most of them ready with the core subject and execution plans. Using both painting and drawing,Manjot Kaur from Chandigarh College of Art will create 40 small works to be displayed as individual art works as well as a video. “The unconscious mind and the concept of ‘whole’ is what I strive to represent with this work,” says Kaur,who is also working on a performance alongside,which will see her making chapatis. “Round and rising,that’s the image of a roti in our sub-conscious mind. I will ask the audience to join in as I prepare chapatis. It will be a platform for discussion and interpretations,” she adds.

Delhi-based artist Mansi Verma’s performance will incorporate painting and dance. “I will depict the nine rasas,the backdrop being a painting depicting Lord Shiva’s energy,and movement being an integral part of the piece,” she says. Verma is composing the piece herself. On the other hand,Vijay Kumar,a painter and animator,is working on a sensory experience based on the story of a sculpture that wants to live. “It’s a nostalgic work in 3D. New media is constantly evolving,and this is an effort to enhance an image by adding the components of sound and design,thereby adding a new meaning to an existing image,’’ says Kumar.

Rajesh Ram’s installation will be created using books,while Soumen Basu,who works with ceramics,will experiment with wood and metal. For most of them,the workshop is a platform to share new ideas and witness contemporary and interactive works.

The workshop is on till March 25,10 am to 6 pm