Size Matters

The first half showcases 27 painters that range from young emerging names to mid-career artists. Well-known names like abstract artist Sheetal Gattani and figurative artist Nayanaa Kanodia—both from Mumba— Delhi’s mixed media artist Pooja Iranna and abstractionist John Tun Sein from Chennai buffer younger names such as Tanmoy Samanta (36) Mekhala Bahl (29) and Gurdeep Singh (34),all of themfrom the Capital.

“What ties the show together is that all the works are on canvas. Also,the show has been divided on the basis of seniority of the artists,” explains Aneja. While the works are chosen according to Aneja’s personal taste,group shows often appeal to the lay person since it presents an overview. Art Motif has been holding big annual shows since 1995 and the themes have ranged from landscapes to young contemporary artists.

“Objects and animals recur in my works,while the bird is the most common motif,” says Samanta. For this painting,the artist has depicted a dove with broken wing— a forceful metaphor for urbanization.

Two other artists whose work captivates are Gattani and Tun Sein who can be seen as two serious abstractionists. “I do not have defined forms in my work but depict my subconscious thinking entirely through colour,” says Sein,an Indo-Burmese artist.

Kanodia’s work shows a garrulous middle-class family (in picture) ,that forms a bridge over the abstracts,pulling the average viewer in for a few light hearted moments.

Get a taste of some these artists as many have solos planned in 2010 at Art Motif.

On Canvas is on at Gallery Art Motif,Lado Sari,till January 3. Contact: 4266 4343.