KOCHI: Vibhuraj Kapoor, owner of Gallery Beyond, met artist Rajan Krishnan in 2004 when the latter was leading the Oberoi Art Camp, a seven-day workshop, in Mumbai. “He was a very quiet guy,” says Vibhuraj. “For the first few days, Rajan hid behind his charcoal paintings. At the end of the fifth day, he came up to me and asked for a spare canvas. When I gave it to him, he said it has been seven years since he has touched one as it was expensive. Using this canvas, he did an amazing painting titled ‘Apple’.”
This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that went beyond the artist-gallery owner relationship, confirmed Renu, Rajan’s wife. In fact, all works of Rajan between 2004 to 2016 belongs to Vibhuraj. An art exhibition displaying the works of the late Rajan, organised jointly by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and Gallery Beyond, is being held at Durbar Hall Art Centre from April 3 to 11. “The exhibition represents the different stages of Rajan’s career,” says Renu.
Entering the hall, one is greeted by renowned art critic Johny M L’s tribute to Rajan. According to him, Rajan was “instrumental in the creation of the Kochi art style which is environmentally concerned, poetic and nostalgic”. The welcome party is complete when one gets to see Rajan’s early works. “It is a contrast to the works that have made him famous. The style and technique are different,” says Vibhuraj.
Throughout the exhibition, irrespective of the style and technique used, this artist’s love for his land is visible. “Most of Rajan’s works are about the decay that has come after urbanisation,” says Vibhuraj.
Some of his best works are ‘Block IX’, which shows the rusting leftovers of industrialisation, ‘Tell You Tomorrow’, ‘Spine of Ibaca’ and ‘Plants of Sustenance’. Before his death, Rajan was working on two works, which have been displayed as well.
What is interesting about the exhibition is the installation of Rajan’s personal sketchbook. “He always had a black sketchbook in his possession in which he would scribble his thoughts,” says Renu.
Rajan’s works have been appreciated by art aficionados all over the world. “This exhibition is a homage to a dear friend in a city he loved so much,” says Vibhuraj. As one walks out of the exhibition, a line from his sketchbook still rings in one’s mind: ‘Art scene in Kochi was a real dream. Yet we made it a reality.’ Yes, he did.