The artisitic shades of 10

The adage ‘the more the merrier’ takes on a new meaning when you see a mix of 10 artists’ paintings hung up, each dominating their own space yet complementing each other.

Po10tial, craftily named to indicate the 10 artists involved has the artistic potential that comes of a mix such as Thirumala Thirupathi, Anand Bekwad, Maredu Ramu, Noopur Parashar, Jinson Joseph, Nataraj Saraf, Venkata Swamy, Purna Chandra Prasad, Swati Vjai and Tanmay Santra.

Most based in the city, and many graduates from the city’s fine arts schools, the artists’ collection of more than 20 paintings is a reflection of not just their flair on the canvas but their influence from the Nawabi city. While  Anand Bekwad does a true Hyderabadi by painting the Charminar, Purna Chandra’s paintings give a glimpse of the cityscape, cleverly done to give it a pixelated effect.

Swati Vjai lends a slightly patriotic touch to Po10tial with her tiny ant formations that make the face of Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose.

Geometry was an evident tool in Noopor Parashar’s ‘Quintessential Ecology’ as she used minimal colours and stuck to the centre of her spread with cleverly contrasting coloured circles forming figures. From small to tiny, the circles appear more like bubbles stuffed together like bubble wrap.

Nataraj Saraf’s tryst with the elephant was an intriguing exhibit, especially when you notice the animal dangling effortlessly from willowy thin branches. In one instance, a man is seen dangling from the elephant’s tail, almost like a gymnast. Painted in bright colours like apple green, the paintings are one of the more surreal exhibits.

Venkat Swamy and Thirumala Thirupathi display a mind befuddled with money; while Thirumala shows an archer aiming for the 500 on an unfurling `500 note, Venkat’s Catwalk shows a blade made from a `100 note while hard working labours like the roadside balloon vendor, construction worker and chai wallah walk on top, almost symbolic of walking of the plank.

Tanmay Santra breaks away from the acrylic mould, using water colours to add a translucent sheen to the collection. Mostly painting in light barely-there colours, it provides a nice break from the stark acrylic-based paintings.

Maredu Ramu’s Men at Work and Jinson Joseph’s Blemish Melody are as polar as can be. Ramu tells of the reality of a city heading towards a non Utopia sardines-in-a-can make up while Joseph paints nature with a tinted view.

The art exhibition is on display at the Kalakriti Art Gallery till December 14.