Other Topics : Art Culture - Fashion - Tourism

Latest & Hot News about our Art and Culture

Return to current news about Art and Culture

Exploring Malayali double-enders in art
By Uma Nair, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS) Renowned artist Bose Krishnamachari has brought together 69 Malayali artists in a unique group exhibition that speaks volumes about Kerala's visual brilliance on canvas.

After its display at the Vadehras Okhla Gallery in the national capital, the exhibition, titled "Double-enders", will travel to Bangalore and Cochin later this year. 

A number of prominent artists were at Vadehras Friday evening to appreciate the art works. They included A. Ramachandran, Paramjit Singh, Anjolie Ela Menon, Manjit Bawa, Harshvardhan, Rameshwar Broota, Arpita Singh, Anjum Singh, Subodh Gupta, sculptor Radhakrishnan and Bose himself. 

"I wanted to do things differently. I wanted the Malayalis and the others to realise that Kerala has a prodigious wealth of talent. Look at Vishwanadhan's works in the exhibition, they are brilliant," says Bose. 

Viswanadhan's works were among the first to sell. Then there was a huge canvas of Ramachandran. A sensitive exposition of the female figure clad in verdant shades of flora and pertinent contours. 

"This is such a concentration of Malayalis," says Ramachandran, as he strolls in and looks around with keen interest. It is clear that everyone's juices are flowing and cameras are clicking. 

Anjolie Ela Menon has an interesting take. "Strange, how the Bengalis do not consider me a Bengali, and the Malayalis do not consider me a Malayali. So I belong nowhere," she says. 

Sculptor Radhakrishnan looks at her and says, "Don't worry, you are more Malayali than most others."

Bose looks at both and continues, "I have always felt that galleries curate shows with a commercial approach. I wanted to do this differently. I tried a global and not a regional sense. Wait for my catalogue, a fantastic catalogue is also being prepared." The hanging and display of works is eclectic to the eyes of viewers. 

"I have taken artists from India including A. Ramachandran, Surendran Nair, Kanai Kunjiraman, Baiju Parthan, Jyothi Basu, Riyas Komu, Shibu Natesan, B. Viswanadhan, Alexander, Annu Matthew and Aji V.N.," says Bose, who contacted sculptor Radhakrishnan for his ramp with the heritage column and the woman flying in an aerial posture. 

"I gave this work because I felt, Malayalis have so much to contribute to Indian art," says Radhakrishnan, whose sculpture stole the limelight as it stood in eloquent elegance on the rooftop.

"The female form for me is the ultimate in its endowment of the human poise and the substance that it speaks of," says Radhakrishnan. 

The hundreds of little figures that stand in all kinds of postures along the ramp also speak about the phases and mutations of life.

"This show, in a way, has a sense of history and responds to global issues," says Bose, who studied in J.J. School of Art. 

Bose is a radical. His stances in Indian art have been open and honest. In the commercialisation of art, his criticism has been scathing. The show has sold out and he is a happy man. 

"I owe this show to Mumbai, which has given me everything as an artist in such abundant measure," he says. 

Is not Double-enders a peculiar title?

"Historically, Kerala has had trade links with many countries. There has also been a spate of migrations. Double-enders is a boat with two pointed ends. It signifies the movement and migration of commodities, people, ideas and cultures. Metaphorically, it's the boat that sails a thousand seas," says Bose. 

Is he critical about Malayalis?

"I think Malayalis are a visually impaired society," he says in sarcasm. 

"They tend to only appreciate what can be verbalised .The best Malayalis have all become famous after leaving Kerala, with the exception of Ravi Varma. I wanted to provide a platform with this show," he smiles.