16 September,2010 08:32 AM IST | | Promita Mukherjee
Niladri Paul's ongoing exhibition showcases works that bring out the myriad expressions of performance artistes
HOW do you merge dance and theatre and express them on canvas? Sounds incredible? That is what artist Niladri Paul has done with his new set of artworks. The artist's latest collection Sutradhaar is now up for view. "Rhythm, theatrical movement and expression are the inspirations behind this set of works," says Paul.
Bold and beautiful
Bold strokes, colours and composition are the highlights of Paul's works. "It is about minimum detailing and maximum expressions," says the artist. The exhibition displays 29 paintings which have been done over a period of one-and-a-half years. His works showcase myriad
emotions that an actor or a dancer or any performing artiste portrays during the performance. He has also painted poignant images from green rooms where a performer gets ready to showcase his work to the world.
(Above) Kabuki is made of nine individual parts to celebrate the theory
of Navrasas; Tara depicts a green room moment in the life of an actor
Tara's world
Paul has used mediums like acrylic on canvas and acrylic and ink on paper. His work Tara is one of the highlights of the exhibition. And it is also the artist's personal favourite. It depicts a poignant green-room moment in the life of an actor when a total transformation is called for and reached in very little time.
The work is a penultimate moment of metamorphosis when Tara has done her make-up and the mirror reflects the stream of thoughts crossing her mind. From the lit up make-up room, she gazes at the mirror before becoming a new personality altogether. "I respond to these colours (fuschia pink and sap green). There are hidden emotions in them. They are mellow and subdued and there is a lot of colour balancing. And the bold expressions are very poignant," explains the artist.
Other favourites include Sudama where Paul portrays a moment of understanding and intimacy between the two famous friends Lord Krishna and Sudama by highlighting the dramatic gestures of the characters, Damini which represents the feminist theatre in a counter cultural space of its own and Sutra which depicts the natural rhythm in the expressions of performers. "These paintings have layers of infinity and perspective. They have a certain movement of their own," says the artist.
The artworks are priced upwards of Rs 1.5 lakhs.
AT: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
When: Today
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
Ring: 9811530053
