Sky146;s the Limit

Even if the concept is ages old, the enthusiasm in its execution leaves no room for complaint. Mohit Jain8217;s Dhoomimal Art Centre DAC...

Even if the concept is ages old, the enthusiasm in its execution leaves no room for complaint.

Mohit Jain8217;s Dhoomimal Art Centre DAC8212;one of Delhi8217;s oldest galleries8212;is at present inhabited by around 150 kites. Of different shapes and sizes, of plyboard and glass, canvas and rice paper. All of which symbolise, like the open road, freedom.

Jain8217;s exhibition titled 8216;Kite-A Celebration8217; will be on at Delhi8217;s India Habitat Centre till the 20th of this month before moving on DAC where the display will continue till August 30.

A look at the exhibits and it is evident that the artists have let their imagination loose. Jogen Chowdhry, Aditya Basak, and Lalu Prasad Shaw, among others, have explored the freedom theme to the fullest extent, focusing not so much on content, but on craftsmanship.

Like Kolkata-based Ganesh Haloi, who, moving away from his abstracts, has opted for figurative works on his three kites. He has his reasons: 8216;8216;Since I wanted to make them look full of life, I painted figures on them. And my childhood memories helped me.8217;8217; Life and movement also inspired city-mate Suvaprasanna8217;s acrylics and charcoal on rice paper, which features the shape of a flying bird in the kite.

Shymal Mukherjee8217;s creations on glass, on the other hand, aren8217;t kites, but similarly-shaped structures, the most noticeable feature being plump figures and comical visages. Udaipur8217;s Shahid Parvez8217;s creations again digress from the original form. He first painted on canvas, which was then pasted on to the plyboard. 8216;8216;I have made two pieces. In one, I show a boy flying the kite and in another I show a girl assisting him,8217;8217; he says.

Not everybody has made kites on their own. And in doing so, perhaps their kites are more original than others. Young artist Neeraj Goswamy from Delhi bought kites from the market and painted on them using the tempera technique. Why? He didn8217;t want to tamper with the original form of the kite. 8216;8216;I wanted it to give the feel of a kati patang which has passed through many hands,8217;8217; he says, adding, 8216;8216;I find kites mystical and luckier than human beings. They can reach places where we can8217;t go.8217;8217;