KOCHI: The paintings on display at the Indriyam Art Gallery in Mattanchery stand out for their unique use of mediums, right from natural extracts, charcoal, acrylic and water colour. The exhibition is a collective effort of 21 women artists who have exhibited their distinctive artworks. Some have opted to stick to a theme, while others have depicted random subjects on canvas. Titled ‘Prosperity’, the exhibition intends to encourage the continuously practicing female artists of Kerala “ There are many female artists who are equally talented and at par with male artists but they are often unrecognised. This exhibition is the second in the series conducted to celebrate the talent of these women artists,” said Sreekanth Nettor, coordinator of the exhibition.
Asha Nandan, a Tripunithara-based artist has explored the subject of birds and her artwork is on painted storks. “I used to do poverty based themes but soon I found this subject interesting too,” said Asha. Babitha Rajiv uses charcoal as the medium of art and her paintings play on trilogy of human emotions. She even uses mediums like acrylic and pencil.
Anju Acharya works on charcoal, human hair, thread and etching on paper. Ernakulam-based artist Dodsy Antony’s work focuses on dolls. The dolls have been dressed up well but even when ants are crawling on the body, they are incapable of reacting against it. The painting is very different as there is a swarm of bees crawling on the ears of the doll. Some of the other artists whose artworks have been displayed are Priyaranjini, Anu Neduvannoor, Sara Hussain, Bindhi Rajagopal, Meera Krishna, Priti Vadakkath, Deepa Gopal, Vani, Vijini, Smija Vijayan, Jayasree P G, Minimol and Shanthakumari. The exhibition will be on till August 24.
POWERFUL IMAGERY OF WAR
A beautiful picture of a woman draped in a sari with a portrait of Durga behind her has been done in colours like brown, orange and different colours mixed together. The theme is related to the state of dalit women in the country and the concept of Durga. Trivandrum-based artist Sindhu Divakaran has brought out the theme of how women are treated in the society. Sindhu’s works have always exposed the dreams of kids, orphans of wars, dictatorial regimes, communal riots and natural disasters. Her painting where a girl child is holding a paper plane in her hand is a war-related subject and has been selected for the Kerala State Award for painting 2017.
My works have always exposed the dreams of kids, orphans of wars, dictatorial regimes, communal riots and natural disasters— Sindhu Divakaran,
artist