When the eye moves from the painting of a leafless tree to a pair of fighting cocks, the viewer gets a visual jolt. The former is a rather sombre setting where a dull green seems to predominate, while the latter is vibrant and full of life where flaming orange and royal blue reign.
Such contrasts between adjacent works are common at ‘Cross-Section’ - a painting exhibition being held at the museum auditorium by the Kerala Chithrakala Parishath, Thiruvananthapuram chapter. It should not come as a surprise, either - after all, 23 amateur artists have exhibited their works.
Each of the paintings, done either in water colour or acrylic, reflect their respective creator’s individuality. Aleyamma Alexander’s, a resident of Kowdiar, work using ball-point pens gives way to Sarasa Kumari’s acrylic work where textures stand out. C P Omana relies on geometric figures to give shape to her painting while Justin Raj’s works right next to hers are classic - a painting of a Radha-Krishna and that of a serene Buddha.
Apart from acrylic work, there are also mural paintings by Dhanya V and Meena Kumari; and a couple of works by Krishnan Nair K using sand.
“This is one of our annual exhibitions where the works of our members are put on display,” said T C Rajan, President of the Parishath.
The 16-year-old Thiruvananthapuram chapter of the body, which started in Thrissur, has about 150 members, according to Rajan.
“We provide a forum for anyone who can draw and paint with some skill,” said Rajan, an employee of ISRO. “This is an organisation of those with a love of art but don’t necessarily follow it as a full-time profession.”
These part-time artists - home-makers to IT workers, twenty-somethings to septuagenarians - have each contributed two of their works to the exhibition. It is on till December 13 from 10 am to 6 pm.