Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Embracing the DISTANT and the PERSONAL - a review


Distance is just a test of how far love can travel. – Unknown (and if I may add that is what makes it personal.)

When four creatives meet through art it’s a journey through the distance to the depth of each one’s soul to invoke what is personal and to grip the experience of belonging. It’s a matter of travelling both inward and outward, alike. Whether we wander in search of exotic locations and/or the mundane to capture what we perceive or whether we delve deep within and stir up an ocean of possibilities; it is at once distant and personal. Distance measures love; yes, love that which meets at every milestone and checks the parameters and squints to see where one has reached under the scorching daylight or the pelting rain tantrums and the most important question is - “Is there something for me to love here? Or maybe someone/something to love me back?” Each one undertakes a journey of one’s own and that’s not a choice. It’s a necessity, devoid of one’s control. One simply can’t choose inertia.

Besides, we are four individuals on our very personal creative journey with four varied mediums, techniques, themes and personalities that are quite distant and yet holding it to our bosom. There were 74 works in this exhibition. Our exhibition was inaugurated by the eminent Poet-Illustrator, Sri. Paul Kallanode. 

Artists-of-DISTANT-and-PERSONAL-with-Sri.-Paul-Kallanode-HuesnShades
(L to R) Devidas Varma, Joby Ravindran, Paul Kallanode, Deepa Gopal, Devan Madangarly

Following in the alphabetical order, my i.e. Deepa Gopal’s protagonists enjoy detachment, solitude but they are rarely lonely. They are in a realm of their own, creating parallel worlds. My interest attempts to capture the burgeoning cosmos on one end to the deepest ocean depths on the other and everything in between and yet that which captivates me the most is perhaps the limitless mind in general and the inner workings of the feminine in particular. Myths, dreams, people and their tales, the emotions and the unbridled feelings kindle my creative juices. They are at once distant and yet personal. I like to couple some of my works with my own Haiku (Japanese poetic style) for the title. Acrylic and gouache with a hint of pen and inktense pencils were the mediums used there. The 35 works I displayed were a mix of series that I had been working on for the past couple of months. Along with the Solo girls (13 works) which were both referenced from my daughter and self, I also had my "Saga of the Nagas" (5 works) based on the myth and legends of the Sarppakkavu or the Sacred Snake Groves, Nocturne series (9 works) and landscapes (8 works) of places in and around Palakkad/Kerala.

Ring-of-fireflies-DeepaGopal-DISTANT-and-PERSONAL-HuesnShades
Ring od Fireflies - Deepa Gopal 
from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Even in meditation, Devan Madangarly’s protagonists who happen to be teenage boys travel. They do not take a literal road trip though. They move to the core, the center, the essence of their being to invoke where they belong. They kindle doubts; doubts about dhyana (profound meditation) in an attempt to reveal themselves through their personal experiences. His protagonists are always solitary figures. The presence of waterbodies suggests continuum – even when it is static or flowing. Life and death is the main subject in his recent works and he uses the presence of a solitary crow in various stances that attributes to its symbolic representation. It was interesting to note a personal story about a crow that used to visit his ancestral home for a couple of years and would take biscuits only from his mother which it then went on to eat by dipping it in water, piece by piece. Watercolour (10 works), pen and ink (7 works), graphite (5 works) are some of the mediums he has used. There were 22 works of his in the exhibition.

Untitled-DevanMadangarly-DISTANT-and-PERSONAL-HuesnShades
Untitled - Devan Madangarly
from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Devidas Varma colours his wide canvas with the hues of nature seizing the epitome of beauty that nature is and his surroundings are. His journey is to apprehend and encapsulate the past glory of our Motherland while focussing on the magnificence and splendour of Palakkad to be specific. He takes on the role of a detached and distant observer who conceives and employs a personal narrative to a landscape; a setting that is inviting and open to all. The land, the green, the earth has more impact on him than anything else. It was a treat to watch his Attapadi works zooming in from a distance to a single house in three canvas. The viewers were taken back in time to an era before it had made technological advancement, before electricity. He has captured the essence of a bygone era of different factions of the society so well that it is definitely a treasure for future generations to study the lifestyle, architecture, the land and its layout etc.  All his 15 works were in acrylic.


Untitled-DevidasVarma-DISTANT-and-PERSONAL-HuesnShades
Untitled - Devidas Varma (Attappadi landscape)
from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Joby Ravindran travels far and wide into his past and his surroundings whether that’s real and/or imaginary – into his childhood, history and dreams, etc. He is inspired by different things and themes and it’s his subject matter that determines the use of his medium which varies from watercolour and acrylic to gouache, charcoal and soft pastels. His recent works are inspired by his immediate surroundings as he is lucky enough to ogle the groovy landscape of coconuts where they mend and blend with the folks of the place like the fronds that synthesis into the braided hair of the women. There’s emotion at play when his women are often meditative and reflective, when he ventures into modes of relaxation through the odd windows peering into their ordinary lives and when he walks the quiet and distraught lanes of Bidding Street. There's a raw and rustic feel to his works which seems to emanate folklore of sorts. 12 works in charcoal and soft pastels were exhibited in the show. 

Let-them-relax-JobyRavindran-DISTANT-and-PERSONAL-HuesnShades
Let them relax - Joby Ravindran
from DISTANT and PERSONAL


A note about the audience:

All four of us were unanimous in our choice of Kozhikode for our exhibition. We wanted to try a new city and most importantly we wanted to experience the aesthetic hospitality that Kozhikode was so famous for. We were definitely not let down and they truly fulfilled their part of being the wonderful-kind-of-host. Each and every person who entered the Akademi had something to offer. They were not in a rush, they slowly approached each work, spent a handful of time observing, gathering, acknowledging, even rummaging at times, having conversations with us, interacting and finally leaving a mark of their own on our minds. It includes the Akademi staff as well. 

Thanks to the City! Gratitude!

Thanks to the fabulous media - print, visual and audio for supporting us and loving us the way you did. Again, Gratitude!


Poster-of-"DISTANT-and-PERSONAL"-HuesnShades
Poster of DISTANT and PERSONAL

Please Note:
In case anyone is interested in purchasing the works, please email at mail.huesnshades@gmail.com for the catalogue and the price.


Saturday, March 26, 2016

Thank You Note!

'Eye of the Soul' concluded well and I would love to extend our thanks to each and every family member, relatives, friends, friends of friends, blogger friends, our X-Victorians and visitors for not only visiting us but also for blessing us, encouraging and supporting us, cheering for us and make us feel 'Awesome'. The press found it appealing and supported us with some great reviews too- Thank you! Thank you Raju N Kutty and Anuradha for being our first buyers from this show.

We were four artists who expressed in four different mediums. Kumar P Mookuthala's illustrations, Anil Kumar's scrapography, Satheesh Vellinezhi's watercolours and a synthesis of my mixed media paintings and my poetry.

Gallery E of Durbar Hall Art Gallery HnS
 Gallery E of Durbar Hall Art Gallery

Artist T Kaladharan (my guru), inaugurating our show HnS
 Artist T Kaladharan (my guru), inaugurating our show

Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Secretary, Vaikom M K Shibu, lighting the lamp HnS
Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Secretary, Vaikom M K Shibu, lighting the lamp

It was then the turn of the artists' to light the lamp:

Deepa Gopal Sunil HnS
That's me...

Satheesh Vellinezhi HnS
 Satheesh Vellinezhi

Anil Kumar and Kumar P Mookuthala HnS
 Anil Kumar and Kumar P Mookuthala

Satheesh Vellinezhi, Kaladharan Sir, Deepa Gopal, Anil Kumar, Kumar P Mookuthala HnS
Satheesh Vellinezhi, Kaladharan Sir, Deepa Gopal, Anil Kumar, Kumar P Mookuthala

Since I am posting this for my blogger friends, I would especially like to name Rajeev Moothedath who visited with his co-brother, Tennyson Thomas and Anu from Zafaran Art...among a whole load of my friends. I was extremely thrilled to see them in person as I was meeting them for the first time, had known them for quite a few years though:

Rajeev Moothedath  HnS
 Rajeev Moothedath (right) with his Co-brother.

Tennyson Thomas HnS
 Tennyson Thomas

Anu (Zafaran Art) HnS
Anu (Zafaran Art)

Here's the clippings of some wonderful reviews we received, not very clear here. In case you wish to read, please click on the link below each clipping:

 The New Indian Express 12-03-2016 HnS


Mathrubhumi 15-03-2016 HnS


The New Indian Express 15-03-2016 HnS


The Hindu Metroplus 17-03-2016 HnS
The Hindu Metroplus 17-03-2016

It was wonderful to have you all...
Thanks a Ton!!!

Thank You HnS
Image from Google

Monday, September 7, 2015

'Re-Collections' on ClipBoard

Once upon a time there were clipboards in wood/hardboard with steel clips/holders...'it multi-tasked'...from being a simple writing pad to exam pad...from drawing pad and scribbling pad to list storing pad even...from holding scripts to all kinds of applications too! Remember???

When I deliberate on it...it was the time when we (some of us at least!) as kids used to dread it, at some point, as it was something connected to exam-nightmares (for me esp before Maths!)...associated to dreams and hopes...linking us to our future...bearing all the scars of our feelings and emotions...they held on to us as we held on to them!
Now-a-days, the link has been lost as we don't find them in any store any more! 
You really need to delve into a kind of treasure hunt for those inanimate wooden clipboards! (One does come across clipboards with assortment of colorful cartoons though but the feel of the raw wood, smooth finish for the paper and scarred behind and the broad metal clip with the maker's mark embossed on it at the top to hold the paper is something nostalgic.)

Having said that, I got to see those wooden clipboards transformed into delightful and magnificent 'beings' lined up on the wall of Gallery E of Durbar Hall, each proclaiming a tale of its own! Not one, not two, not even ten...but 101 of them...from different parts of India and abroad. The diversity it displayed is quite amazing; illustrations, abstracts, mixed media, digital prints, 3-D, laser cut, even sculpted and what not!

For Shijo Jacob (Lecturer at Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikkara), Clipboard is synonymous with nostalgia. As the curator of the show he has been successful to a great extent to bring out that feeling of recollections, of aspirations, dreams and dilemmas, childhood desires, fantasies and fears from and through each participating artist. He sent out clipboards to 101 artists and each artist metamorphosed a mere clipboard into something unique and personal, gaining momentum to salvage a once lost and forgotten experience or the aforesaid feelings, emotions and thoughts, expressing them into an artifact...it has a greater relevance today since everything is fleeting and transient these days; 'Attachment and commitment' seems to have lost relevance. It is not only an extension of such thoughts that has come to life but one could even find exclusive digression like political innuendos too.

"Clipboard within the medium of discursive parameters of this exhibition is not just about the nostalgic past. It involves use and disuse of methods and materials; it speaks of fossilization of objects and events; it narrates the story of arrivals and departures of ideas; it creates a platform to negotiate the idea of disappearance in the days of globalization; it also speaks of a retrieval system as memory is one such mechanism we have to live upon. Clipboard is a support, a hold, an enthusiasm and a memory pad that does not have a self illuminating screen."

- Johny M L (Art Critic, Curator, Writer)

Clipboard-poster-HuesnShades
Clipboard Poster

I reached there at the nick of time...lamp lighting (Couldn't click the pictures though)! The hall was already beaming with artists and art enthusiasts.

Clipboard-Inauguration-HuesnShades
 At Gallery E, Durbar Hall, Kochi

Clipboard-Inauguration-HuesnShades
Artist-Curator Shijo Jacob lighting the lamp

Here's a glimpse of what I saw...you need to see this in person as they aren't doing real justice here!


Clipboard-GalleryE-HuesnShades

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Ajaya Kumar, Rakesh Puliyarakonam, George Martin, Pooja Iranna, Midhun Raj
Siji R Krishnan, Jayadeep R S, Priti Vadakkath, Sonali Laha, Sunil Sree

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Babitha Kadannappally, Benoy P J, Gireesh G V, Josh P S, Bhagyanath
Shajith R B, Tensing Joseph, S G Vasudev, Manmeet Devgun, Anu B S

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
P K Manoj, Gigi Scaria, N N Rizmon, Remya Sandeep, Renji Viswanath
Surendran Karthyayan, Ashok Kumar Gopalan, Reji K P, Jayaram Poduval, Kattur Narayana Pillai

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Gopi Krishna, Antony Karal, Moutushi Chakraborty, Balakrishnan V P, Suresh Panicker
Shinod Akkaraparambil, Zakkir Hussain, P R Satheesh, Harilal Krishnan, Rinku Raj

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Vivek Vilasini, T V Santhosh, Vivan Sundaram. Nijina Neelambaram, T Kaladharan
K K Sasi, Ruchika Wason Singh, Ranjith Raman, Anoop Kamath, Roy Thomas

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Shijo Jacob (middle)

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Manoj Vyloor, Mimi Radhakrishnan, Murali Cheeroth, Dodsy Antony, Barnet Alex Varghese
Abhimanue V G, M T Jayalal, K S Radhakrishnan, K K Rajappan, Ritu Kamath

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Saju Mannathur, Tom J Vattakuzhi, Mukta Kamplikar, Azis T M, Biveesh B
Shanti Kasi, Margaret Lanzetta, A P Sunil, Moeen Fatma, Johny M L

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Binoy Varghese, Deepthi P Vasu, Prasad Kumar K S, Aby P Robin, Arun Kumar H G
Jyothilal T G, Anil Thambai, Merlin Moli, Pradeep Naik, Sabrina Osborne

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Sajeev Visweswaran, Uthara Remesh, Deepak John Mathew, Shine K, Aji Adoor
Anandakrishnan S K, K T Mathai, G Unnikrishnan, Pratul Dash, Santhosh K

Clipboard-Exhibition-HuesnShades
Sandeep Biswas, Rajeev Puliyoor, Manu Binny George, Ashik L, Babu Xavier
Aiswaryan K, Anindita Chakraborthy, Joseph Mathew, Shivani Aggarwal, Shilpa Mayenkar


In its entirety, Clipboard was a treat to watch.

Even the catalogue is awesome, it's a great keepsake! You can find the works of all 101 artists :)

Clipboard-Catalogu- HuesnShades
 Clipboard-Catalogue-HuesnShades


The first two pictures are from Clipboard FB page.




Monday, October 27, 2014

The Winner is...

Thank you everyone for the likes in FB page and particularly those who reached here, took time to comment and also took part in the giveaway. It does feel good to hear your most valuable comments/feedback.

I did feel a bit low as there wasn't much participation as I expected...anyways I am glad that at least some of them found it interesting enough :)




The winner is.....

*with drumrolls and trumpets*

 
LINDA KUNSMAN



Linda is an extremely talented artist blogger who blogs at Heartfully Inspired and a regular fellow-contributor at PPF (Paint Party Friday).

Linda, please do mail me your snail-mail address to mail.huesnshades@gmail.com.


Have a Great Day Everyone!

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the author.


Friday, September 19, 2014

ProArt Gallery & Rhythm of Nature

Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers


In between the lush palms, opposite the Grand Mosque stands a splendid mall in Jumeirah, Dubai aptly named The Palm Strip Mall which houses the ProArt Gallery with some of the best works of the Masters like Dali, Chagall, Picasso, Souza and the like. The very first step that you place transports you into a different realm of lights, colours and patterns. The first person to greet you would be the ever-pleasant, jovial and ready-to-explain, Mr.Francois Epaud. He would take you through each and every piece briefing about it's history & the artist concerned if he has that leisure and if the gallery isn't crowded. I bow to his enthusiasm. I have visited the gallery twice, once in 2012 and then in May 2014 when I had been to Dubai during the vacation and on each occasion I have been blown over by the works displayed. 

The ProArt Gallery is founded by the Faure family and is now run by Tatiana Faure. They have a fab collection of not only artworks of Masters but also lithographs and sculptures of famous artists as well...contemporary and impressionistic pieces adorn those walls and spaces. 

ProArt-Gallery-HuesnShades
ProArt Gallery

ProArt-Gallery1-HuesnShades


ProArt-Chagall-HuesnShades


ProArt2-HuesnShades


ProArt3-HuesnShades


ProArt-Elvis-HuesnShades
 Elvis - The Incredible!

ProArt-Violin-HuesnShades
 Loved it!

Art-brush-Table-HnS
 Super-cool center-table

Sufi-Art-HnS
 Soothing piece by an Iranian artist

Romero-Britto-HnS


Can-U-Guess-HnS

Who is the Artist of the last picture???Any Guesses???

I was in awe when I heard the name of the artist...I wanted to touch and feel it...Mr.Francois was liberal enough and allowed me so...I ran the fingers over it and just thought of the artist in the process of creation...wonderful vision! 

The first time I visited the Gallery was in 2012 with the Art Bus and that was one incredible and memorable experience. I can never forget Maria Del Mar Garcia Montoya, the slender Spanish beauty and the vibrant & matured Australian artist, Kathryn Ryan. They were terrific guides and radiant souls :) It was a fantastic group too!!!

Maria-Kathyrn-ArtBus-2012-HuesnShades
 Maria & Kathryn - ArtBus Dubai 2012

Mr.FrancoisEpaud-HuesnShades
 Mr.Francois Epaud of ProArt Gallery

ArtBus-Team-2012-HuesnShades
Some of the members of the Art Bus team


Please note that the Gallery is open Saturday to Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm and Friday from 1 pm to 9 pm. For details, contact : 04 3450900

Now that ProArt is introduced I would like to share an artwork for PPF. As usual linking it to the same and if you would like to know what happens there, hop over and explore :)

Rhythm-of-Nature-HuesnShades
Rhythm of Nature
acrylics on cotton canvas, 9x12 in

As the name suggests, it does dance to the rhythm of nature both within and without! 

Speaking of the rhythm of nature, I also wish to share a meeting that I had with one of my blogger friends, Sangeetha Menon of Bumps n Baby. It was truly amazing to meet and get to know her. We glued instantly...talked as if we had been great friends all the while and spent some awesome time together yesterday morning. Sangeetha, so glad that we met up to make the day a memorable one! Thanks a ton for the stunning Ravi Varma gift :D 
Friends, do visit her site...she's one amazing parenting blogger with experts in her panel.

Sangeetha&Deepa-HuesnShades
Jab We Met :)

LadyinMoonlight-by-RaviVarma-HuesnShades
Lady in Moonlight by Raja Ravi Varma

See you next week, until then adieu :)

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the author.