Embracing diversity

Accordingly,the 117 participating artists showcasing more than 250 paintings and sculptures included,both established artists like Yusuf Arakkal and Achyut Pallav and upcoming ones. Hema Malini who inaugurated the exhibition was seen interrogating each artist present about his or her works. “Some of the paintings are so beautiful. I’d definitely like to see them hung on my walls,” exclaimed the actress.

This is the fourth Art Fusion Show that Nehru Centre is organising. While,previously,the art extravaganza was held in the month of March every year,this year it was strategically shifted to May to coincide with the Golden Jubilee of the State. The exhibition will continue till May 9.

The artists addressed a variety of themes in their works from spirituality to regional concerns to self-exploration. While some of the works like that of Maharashtrian artist Borse Parag were restricted to scenes from his village Karjat,others like Datta Bansode,Mahendra Mistry and Hema Joshi embraced a wider perspective rendering abstract portrayals of scenes,landscapes,profiles and thoughts.

“It takes more time to conceptualise a sculpture than actually build it,” said sculptor Rampure Bhagwan. His artificial marble sculpture portrays a reposing Buddha whose physical self has dissolved into an unfocused blur while only his face remains sharply defined.

The exhibition also proved to be an exercise in embracing diversity with works like An Allusion to Stitches by Baroda-based textile designer Jyoti Shelly,who wove art on a stylised canvas filled with embroidered patches and block printed Sanskrit calligraphy exclusive to the Ahir community of coastal Gujarat.

“What I found fascinating is that each stitch is exclusive to a particular tribe and is a visceral part of their identity,” said Shelly,who will be taking the works to Chicago in December.