Reality Bites

The term “pseudorealism” may not be very popular today but if artist Devajyoti Ray’s latest works are anything to go by,it is all set to change. The 37-year-old artist’s latest exhibition,titled The Discreet Charm of Pseudorealism,has 23 acrylic-on-canvas paintings. They are on display at the Jehangir Art Gallery till November 20. The show captures “the world as it often appears to be rather than the real truth”. Explaining his works,Ray says,“Today,we tend to look at things from a certain perspective; we are exposed to a particular perception that doesn’t necessarily have to be the truth. My paintings represent this pseudo-real world.”

He points out how great art doesn’t have to be all abstract. “There was a time when we’d look at an abstract painting,and the common man wouldn’t even know what the artwork was all about,yet it would garner a lot of positive attention. Now that is changing slowly; soon it’s the simple,easy to understand painting or installation that will gain prominence over the ones that are difficult to fathom,”

says Ray,who has been working on this Psuedoreal series since 2003.

“Luckily,the art market in Mumbai is a lot more open to experimentation and that makes it a healthy environment for art. Besides,Indian art has come a long way since I started out back in the year 1992; there is a lot more awareness today,” he says. EFS