12 January,2011 08:51 AM IST | | Razvin Namdarian
When you know you are walking through an art show centred on the influence of Dadaism on Italian art and the rise of the Neo-pop art in Italy, you wouldn't expect to see Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Anil Kapoor staring at you from the canvas.
But Dadaumpop, the ongoing exhibition of 24 Italian artworks by 24 Italian artists at Gallery BMB, does offer you many such interesting surprises. Igor Zanti, the curator of the show, takes CS on a guided tour:
Star gazing
Artist David Cesaria has visited and lived in India on quite a few occasions so one finds the Indian connect in his work. You'll see cardboard box sculptures of Batman, Superman and Spiderman with their faces shown as caricatures of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Anil Kapooru00a0-- the Indian super heroes.
What's more, they are presented as deities or demi-gods with flower garlands, incense and candles lit at their altars. That's how Indian actors are treated in India, aren't they?
Bridging gaps
As 2011 is also the 150th year of Italian unification, artist Florraine has created an artwork that is in part-photo collage and part-graffiti.
The artist has shown the brain as a bridge between Italy and Sicily, which is an intellectual bridge. She has also created a video installation in which she had a mock opening ceremony of this bridge complete with ribbon cutting and champagne.
Toon boon
Popular cartoon characters inhabit the walls of the first section of the exhibition. This work presents the new Italian pop art, which has influences of Japanese pop art as well as Italian cartoons. The artists are very young; in their 30's and one of them, Marco Lodola, has also been presented at the Venice Biennale.
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Incredible India
Being in India has been a fantastic experience. While I do not know much about the Indian art scene, I really admire and like Subodh Gupta's works. From what I have seen at the galleries in the past few days, I think the Indian artists have good conceptual art and originality. And yes, I would love to host a show of Indian artists.
