Kaleidoscope, an exhibition of 27 abstract paintings, reveals the profundity of human drama. How does one strike a different note with art? “A lot has to do with medium chosen for conceptual art works,” says S Anand, a 38-year-old artist who holds a Diploma in Fine Arts and an Advance Diploma in Multimedia Design Applications. His abstracts on canvas and acrylic use themes and genres from art history which have fallen into disguise. Anand says it took 45 days to complete the set of paintings he started a year ago. “Art has been a part of my life as long as I remember,” he says. “As a child, I drew whatever I could. As I grew older, I developed a fascination for colours, which I think are synonymous with beauty.” A freelance artist and graphic designer by profession, his works deliver consciousness in thoughts.Speaking of how he drew inspiration from the kaleidoscope, the soft-spoken artist says he admires the fragments of coloured glasses and its symmetrical designs. Anand is the recipient of Junior Fellowship award for outstanding artists by the Department of Culture, Government of India (2002-04) on the subject ‘Nature’. Ever since, his hunger for abstracts has driven him to produce paintings that portrayed feelings, a source of joy to the viewers. His works have a ‘touch and feel’ quality, and his fast-moving straight lines are vibrant. When it comes to abstracts, he stresses the importance of colour combination and proper mixing sense. “I don’t plan for my sketches,” says the artist who began his career in 1993. “They are created spontaneously.”Anand is equally interested in making sculptures, clay works, and ceramic dolls. “I use light colours behind and dark colours outside in abstracts,” he says. “When scrubbed with a palette knife, the inner colour mixes with the outer portion, producing variety of quality reflections.” Many art giants like Monet, Constable, Rembrandt, and KM Adimoolam have inspired him. Having engraved more than 100 landscapes, art, for him, is everywhere and everything. Nature plays an important role in his works and has itself been converted into an art work. It is evident that his works arise from experimentation with the subject on a continuous basis. In a way, his feel of abstracts gives spectators a space to make their own desired journey of discovery between the figures and lines. Insisting on the importance of individuality of art works, he says it is ideal to use different colours to distinguish between the ideas that evolve around the same subject. “God can’t create two similar things at a time; so as the artists” he says. So what does Anand conveys through his works? Without giving it any thought, he says, “Happiness”.Anand’s father, R Santhanagopalan, a retired government official from the medical department, has always been a pillar of support and encouragement. He says, “My father cajoles me when I’m depressed and whenever there is a lull in the sale of my art works.” The proud father says, “Before my departure I would like to see my son reaching remarkable heights.” So what is Anand’s next step? He is all set to learn waxing and metal casting, and is on the hunt for a good teacher.The exhibition-cum-sale is being held at Gallery Sri Parvati, Alwarpet, till June 4.
Comments
0 comment