When long-lost friends catch up,they normally have a gala time,take a trip down memory lane,and basically have a merry time. However for old friends Anil Upalekar and Kalpana Kasetwar who will be meeting after 33 long years the very concept of old friends reuniting again has been changed. The two decided to make the meet more memorable by coming up with the idea of holding a painting exhibition.
Kalpana was my junior in college. We are meeting after a long time now,so we thought exhibiting our paintings together will make this day memorable, informs Upalerkar,a commercial artist. Upalerkar along with his wife,wanted to gather many of their college batch-mates and friends,however they manged to assemble only a few – Sachin Joshi,Girish Sahasrabudhe and Sandesh Joshi.
Each artist will have a separate theme and will exhibit their individual paintings that they have been working on since months. I am really looking forward to this. My theme is landscapes- and my paintings are mainly comprised of water bodies. I will be exhibiting nine of my paintings that are done by using oil painting and knife painting techniques, quips Kasetwar. According to her,the painting should mesmerise the viewer and force them to have a feeling ‘I wish I was there.’
Sandesh Joshi,one of the artists,who is excited about this exhibition says,People will get to see a variety of paintings as everyone’s work and theme is different. I will be showcasing eight of my paintings which are mostly of village and landscapes,my favourite painting being the village bazaar. he adds. For Upalekar,who has been in this profession since the past 33 years,painting is something very individualistic. It is more about self expression, he explains.
Kasetwar however has her own definition. She explains,Painting for me is about how wild one’s imagination can be and about how the person can put it on the canvas. To paint something,it is not necessary that you should visit different places,you can add your thoughts and ideas and draw it with your own imagination sitting at home,unless it is an historical place.
It is well known that Pune is a hub of art culture which provides many budding artists with a platform to showcase their talent. The present situation is really good. Many young and talented artists are getting a chance to come up with their own exhibitions. With the concept of animation coming in,the thinking of the painters has become more creative, says Upalekar.
(The artists will exhibit their paintings at Darpan Art Gallery which will commence on December 9)