Artists and sculptors make the viewers travel back and forth in time and celebrate minimalism through their works, which are being showcased at the Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata, says U Nair
For some years now, Vikram Bachawat, director of Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata, has been virtually rewriting the rules of classical traditions in collecting contemporary artworks. His affordable art exhibition is an annual event that sometimes subtly and often dramatically draws in collectors from all walks of life.
The gallery is now hosting the seventh edition of the Affordable September Art Mela. “There have been six successful editions of the fair at the Kolkata gallery, where we constantly strived to make art more accessible. The exhibition hopes to bring art into the lives of people who harbour a passion and love for it,” says Bachawat.
The gallery showcases works of over a 100 artists with more than a thousand artworks priced between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,00,000. According to Bachawat, this is a one-of–a-kind occasion for art enthusiasts to collect original and rare pieces at the best prices. “The pursuit of owning great works of art should not be limited to a few. The pleasure of living with and savouring great artworks is incomparable to merely looking at them in galleries,” he adds.
Testimonies of time
Artist Lalu Prasad Shaw’s portrait of a Marwari gentleman in a kurta smelling a flower is a testimony to observation and satirical slants in the lifestyles of the people he captures with winsome detail.
On the other hand, artist Jogen Chowdhury’s acrylic on canvas is a minimally-rendered flower that recalls the tradition of rangoli and his love for nature. His penchant for carving contours speak of the beauty of nature’s many evocative epochs that run through the tide of time.
Speaking sculptures
Sculptor Asim Basu’s Man with Grandson is a brilliant cubist rendering of the human figure done in a style that celebrates minimalism and speaks of its enduring power. Basu translates his imagery into 3D.
Another sculptor, Akhil Chandra Das’ Goat reminds one of the famous she goat of Pablo Picasso. Das’ fervour and a perfection of understanding forms and imagery is evident in his work in terms of the stylisation he does and the natural flow of the anatomical accentuations.
Sculptor Subrata Biswas’ terracotta image at once celebrates the iconographic power of religiosity with animals and humans. The beauty of terracotta is its tensile and tactile qualities as well as the earthy tonality that keeps the rhythms of resonance and power of sacred and profane intact.
Next up is Bimal Kundu’s head, which is a rendition that scores in its vitality and simplicity. The image signifies both ardour and strength of composition.
For the afficionados of art, this is certainly an event which is looked forward to for picking up works that are collectible yet affordable.
(The collection is on display from September 28.)