“The power of zero in an artwork should never be underestimated,” declares esteemed art curator TK Harindran, emphasizing the crucial role of quietude in the creation of art. Artworks like the haunting “Shadows of the Palm Trees,” with its interplay of light and obscurity, punctuated by the use of vivid acrylic shades, exemplify this notion. “There is so much happening and yet nothing,” Harindran observes, drawing attention to the powerful sense of both turmoil and repose the art instills.
This poignant piece is a highlight of the “Ores of Trance” exhibition, presented by eight contemporary talents striving to deconstruct the essence of being through non-figurative and abstract art. The showcase, curated by Harindran, features 15 paintings providing a platform for abstract artists, particularly those affiliated with the Cholamandal community, to display their works in Delhi.
Situated in Hauz Khas Village, the exhibition offers a visual feast. P Gopinath, another Cholamandal resident, contributes four modest-sized canvases that project profound inner gravity on themes of liberation, cultural heritage, and the banal. Eschewing the concrete, these artworks represent a visual symphony shaped by the artist’s personal journey, much like a musician’s evolving repertoire. The arresting color compositions echo the harmonious resonance of a well-crafted melody.
Hemraj’s “Eternal Reminiscence” leverages the play of shadows to evoke vast expanses, stirring a yearning for bygone eras. The images’ fluidity calls to mind the winds of time, enveloped in a sense of loss for what once was. Similarly themed, Rashmi Khurana’s “Un-rectified Melodies” manifests her transition from life in Punjab to urban living. Here, recycled materials take shape as paper pulp renditions of the petals of her life, unrestrained and rich in narrative, with red standing prominently as a token of dynamism.
True to art’s boundless nature, Akhilesh introduces “Black is Missing,” an enigmatic take on the aesthetic of Bhimbetka cave paintings located in Madhya Pradesh. Shobha Broota’s contemplative contribution utilizes geometric forms intermingled with rich, warm hues of red and green, forging distinct expressions that invite the observer into the terrain of the subdued mind. Her work reminds us that amid apparent emptiness, a sudden spark can ignite significant meaning.
In stark contrast, Shridhar Iyer’s “Jatra” is an ebullient canvas where color waves ebb and flow, while Yusuf’s art reveals a dystopian torment viewed through a fragmented, nightmarish aperture. The latter’s chaotic windows and dark shades convey alarm and a forceful desperation.
The title “Ores of Trance” encapsulates the delicate fusion of art’s intrinsic layers, which are meticulously unraveled in a transcendental creative state, as articulated by Harindran. The artists, primarily from the iconic Cholamandal Artists’ Village in Chennai, a pioneering force in the Madras Movement of Art, continue their legacy with these impactful abstract works.
The exhibition, situated at Gallery 1000A within the G5-39, Daryacha building in Hauz Khas village, welcomes visitors until May 20, from 11:30am to 7:30pm, with Tuesdays being the sole exception when the gallery is closed. For those seeking to engage with the rich tapestry of Indian contemporary abstract art, the “Ores of Trance” exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the profound narrative depths and the ethereal experience of existence as captured by the artists’ diverse palettes and strokes.