Pin-Up Art

Calendar art usually consists of tropes such as deities,episodes from religious texts,patriotic imagery,movie stars and of course,women. Himanshu Verma,director,Red Earth,hit upon the idea of using the same,if not similar themes and the exhibition was born. “The calendar tropes speak not just to the layman,but also to many contemporary visual artists who have incorporated aspects of this tradition in their work,consciously or unconsciously,thereby reinterpreting the tradition in distinctly individualistic artistic vocabularies,” says Verma who has curated the show. The show presents the work of twelve artists,such as Farhan Mujib,Pushpamala N,The Singh twins and more,each using visual references from works of Indian calendar art. The year begins with Arjuna’s Maha Saraswati,reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe panels and goes on to Rajendra Kapse’s double self portrait as a Maharaja. Kapse’s work is one of the most striking works,as it immediately connects with the viewer,eliciting much more than a grin.

Another incredible work is that of collage artist Farhan Mujib. In The room with Blue Walls,Mujib merges imagery from Hindu and Muslim calendar art. “I’ve paid homage to the grandmaster of calendar art Raja Ravi Verma,by juxtaposing his nouveau Hindu iconography with the figure of a Buraaq,a mythical figure that is a popular in Muslim calendars,” says Mujib. The year ends with a self portrait of Pushpamala N,dressed in traditional Thai costume and shot in a studio in Bangkok

“While much of painting in India has undoubtedly looked westwards in an attempt to contextualise itself in the global art scenario,some artists have taken Indian popular imagery as the starting point of their journey. Each artist presents a unique way in which popular culture is incorporated into their art practice,” says Verma. Case in point is Waswo X Waswo’s I See Myself as Laxmi and Alexis Kersey’s pink yogi meditating on a Louis Vuitton mat,concentrating on an Indian take on the biblical tale of David and Goliath.

The calendar is available for Rs 300.

The exhibition is on at Apparao Galleries,Triveni Garden Theatre,till 30 January. To order your calender call Red Earth at 01141764054