Arty confluence

8221; My art is influenced by the nostalgic memories that I have of this city,8221; says Suhas Bahulkar whose paintings depict women draped in the traditional nine-yard sari and gold jewellery with predominant use of the colour orange. Using oil, acrylic and gold leaf as his medium, one of his prize paintings at the gallery, has been inspired by the hanging of the Chapekar brothers of Pune in 1897, who shot Charles Walter Rand, who while in charge of the Plague in Pune had unleashed a reign of terror and atrocities. 8221; The impact of circumstances on human nature move me, like the impact that the hangings of the brothers must have had on their family.8221;

Milind Mullick on the other hand portrays his impressions of everyday life as cityscapes. His paintings depict slick street scenes on a rainy day and rooftops all splashed in blue-gray watercolours. In complete contrast and spaced strategically were the vibrantly hued paintings of Ravi Paranjape. 8220;I try to find visual melodies hidden behind reality and then infuse my canvas with that music,8221; he says of his art, which runs into a riot of pinks, mauves, aquamarine and purple. Using oil on canvas, his paintings are more of a representational style, where the subject is easily identifiable.

Vasudeo Kamath had on display three of his watercolours and had chosen the elephant as his main subject. 8220;No where else in the world do people share the cultural bond that we share with these majestic animals,8221; he feels. Speaking of the burgeoning art market in India he says,8221; Mumbai is still undoubtedly the best place for art but with exhibitions like these we create interest and can cultivate that culture in places like Pune also.

The exhibiton of the works of these artists is a visually harmonious experience.

The exhibition is on till October 28 from 11am to 7 pm at Ray Art Gallery