Multiple Strokes

It was a perfect setting for the International Art Appreciation Day. Sixteen canvases,different strokes,splashes of colour and a space for art. Kadamb Art’s exhibition of paintings was a special effort to get people involved in looking at art and engaging their senses. To explore the creative genius of artists,Kadamb Art organised a workshop of 15 eminent artists. The exhibition showcases the works they created as part of this workshop. The concept of the workshop,“Celebrating Creativity” was to follow the journey of an idea,from initiation to implementation,to witness the magic of turning a blank canvas into a painting and to understand and appreciate the creative instincts and technical skills of the artists. “Appreciating art teaches us how to form an opinion,to look within and to make a connection between the conscious and subconscious. To understand art requires some aesthetic sense,attention to detail,patience and willingness to reflect one’s own feelings,’’ says Neenu Vij with a smile,who conceptualised the show and the exhibition.

The 16 canvases reflect varied moods,styles and mediums. City-based Bheem Malhotra works with oils to create a range of mountains,and it’s the play of black,grey and white which give the painting both depth and movement. Dipto Narayan Chatophadhya from Kolkata creates a striking and magnificent work using old newspapers and fevicol. Mix media on canvas,the work,primarily in green takes you to a run-down place,with an old car,old moon,the darkness of the place with a magical sheen.

The magic of the mountains,pine trees,fauna and foliage,mist is recreated by KK Gandhi from Jammu,who works with acrylics to create a landscape that is serene and silent. Nawal Kishore creates dancers in unison,the fluidity of their body and mind captured on their faces and the earthy tones — oranges and browns creating a dramatic effect. Prabhinder Lall is inspired by Chandigarh’s architecture and its roundabouts and creates vertical layers with shades of orange,green and blue.

Green and gold fields fill the landscape of Sadre Alam. The painting in oil is an eye-catcher. Shakti Singh’s Radha and Krishna lost in love,Satwant Sumail’s women in lilac, Sanjay Kumar’s ballet dancer in a riot of colours — there is a lot to look at in wonder.

The exhibition is on display at Kadamb Art Gallery,Sector 20,Panchkula