Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
All of us have heard that saying, right? And I think it’s most relevant to art – the abstractness and subjectivity of art interpreted with one’s own perception make it so intriguing. Take Van Gogh’s starry night oil painting for instance – the picture holds a million tales – from the stormy sky to the several sun-like sketches. There is no right or wrong in art, it’s just a reflection of an artist’s mind.
And since 1895, the La Biennale di Venezia (also known as the Venice Biennale) has been giving artists a chance to share their ideas with the world. Albeit a bit late, India made its first appearance at the exhibition in 2011. Now, after an eight-year hiatus, it has made its comeback at the 58th instalment of the prestigious event. Better late than never, right?
Presenting a group exhibition named Our Time For A Future Caring, the India Pavilion is showcasing artwork by famed artists like M. F. Husain, Atul Dodiya, Nandalal Bose, Jitish Kallat, GR Iranna, Ashim Purkayastha, Rummana Hussain and Shakuntala Kulkarni. It forms part of India’s celebrations of ‘150 years of Gandhi’, and here are some of the best artworks that make up the pavilion:
1. Renowned painter M. F. Husain perfectly captured the essence of our homeland with his mural piece, named Zameen…
2. Atul Dodiya brought conceptual art to us in the form of Broken Branches…
3. Nandalal Bose presented the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi in the form of Haripura Posters…
4. Jitish Kallat turned Mahatma Gandhi’s letter to Adolf Hitler into artwork that he named Covering Letter…
5. Ashim Purkayastha, with his minimal yet effective work, reflected on farmers’ struggles and the political fallout through his stamp artwork titled Farmers…
6. Through Fragments, Rummana Hussain showed us how even broken pieces of clay can make a powerful statement…
7. Shakuntala Kulkarni combined urban thinking with rural skills in her artwork titled – Of Bodies, Armours & Cages…
8. Kannada artist GR Iranna’s Panic Garden – an installation of wooden sandals – evokes a sense of unity in spirit
Led by Kiran Nadar, Chairperson of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and a champion of the arts in India, these masterpieces were curated by Roobina Karode, the chief curator of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. All these paintings depict the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi while highlighting its contemporary relevance. It’s an absolute treat for people who love and appreciate art.
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art is the principle partner for the India Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. What a great way to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s ideologies on his 150th birth anniversary!