Spotlight

After a four-year-long break, Jaideep Mehrotra is exhibiting his work at the Jehangir Art Gallery, next week. This is the 45-year-old artist...

After a four-year-long break, Jaideep Mehrotra is exhibiting his work at the Jehangir Art Gallery, next week. This is the 45-year-old artist8217;s 15th solo exhibition. But that number hardly comes as a surprise when you consider that Jaideep was just 12 when he held his first exhibition. What makes Jaideep stand apart from other artists is that he is happy with any form of art 8212; be it canvas, clay or computer generated. quot;Even as a child I would work with just about anything. From scrap metal to wax,quot; he says.

Just a year ago, he held an exhibition of digital lithographs, some of which will be included in this exhibition. This show is called Bookmark, and though Jaideep does not like to title his work, he felt this was closest to him. Jaideep sees himself as a bookmark 8212; as an observer marking events. Incidentally, this is the next event Maxtouch is sponsoring after the Prithvi Theatre Festival.

Bookmark includes 12 large canvases, 35 smaller canvases and three sculptures. Through his paintings, Jaideepexpresses his growing concern about issues around him. For instance, one painting titled Buried in it8217;, shows a man surrounded by waste. It was influenced by a trip to Alibaug where on the beach, Jaideep just saw plastic bags instead of sand. Another painting, Picture of Anarchy was influenced by a newspaper article and photograph on human rights violations taking place in Indonesia. In the 30 years that Jaideep has been an artist, he has seen the Indian art scene change totally. quot;There used to be just a couple of serious art collectors when I first started. Now having a piece of art in your home has become almost a fashion statement,quot; says he. This, Jaideep believes, is both good and bad. quot;I wish people were more educated about art,quot; says he. To correct that, coinciding with his exhibition, Jaideep is giving two talks. One was held yesterday 8212; only for students. And the next, is on Wednesday, at the Godrej Dance Academy.

Bookmark, at the Jehangir Art Gallery. From Dec 2 to Dec 6. Time: 11.00 am to7.00 pm.