Thirty artists’ works are on display at Punjab Kala Bhawan. Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Correction by PLKA: It should have been written as 88 Artists instead of 30 artists as mentioned in the report above

Manpriya Singh

As much as the experimental themes, if not more, the Annual Art Exhibition 2018 by Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi takes a microscopic view of experimental mediums. Though the regular oils and acrylics on canvas do find a place amidst the exhibition putting together 116 works, they are far outnumbered by the likes of thread, glue and thread reels on canvas. “Even with our jury members, the endeavour has been to bring in works that are new, and have a fresher perspective. These artists too on the other hand, have access to all the information over the net, some are really well travelled and that reflects in their works,” Diwan Manna, president, Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, has us stepping behind the gallery walls to show the work that has gone into the selected categories, with a total 30 invited artists and 43 works by students and 43 by professionals. Artistic view of themes And as for the subjects, well, even something like a medicated hot-water bag finds space in two of the works by Bharti Sharma, titled as Excruciating Pain. Artist Manjot Kaur takes a micro view of the landscape in her work attempted with pen and collage on paper, titled Growing Smaller, which was inspired by her travels to Amsterdam and Switzerland.  “The more we travel, the more we realise how small we are and how big the nature is.” Artist Varinder Singh’s works put forth yet another human philosophy in his work titled Shadows Falling Apart. The photographic print on paper shows the top view of humans walking with shadows trailing ahead of them.Moving on in the professional category, artist Mithun Mandal’s Rohingyas I attempted in paper collage on wood, makes one pause and think. What stares the viewer in the face is the sad reality of newspaper clippings and images comprising poverty and misery of human life. In awarded student’s category, artist Gurneet Kaur’s work in inspired by reality. “I did this work when my elder sister got married,” she points to mix-media work on carom board which depicts a daughter and mother duo spending the last few days together before she goes away for good. “I used sand to paint it and put a few drops of acrylic colours.” While in the same category artist Neha Gupta’s, work titled Isolation brings forth the plight of a captured bird, which craves freedom. The work in acrylic and thread on canvas is one of the various experimental mediums she is trying her hands at. “I am currently working on ceramic plates and metal pieces,” adds the MFA pass out. Moving on artist Gurjeet Singh has attempted to let all the women know that they are not that unfortunate in his sculpture Lady with Pink Lips, done in cloth, cotton and ready-made objects. While he emphasises on the beauty of women, artist Subhash Shorey focuses on the beauty of stones in his eclectic colourful sculpture titled Mysterious Beauty of Stones. Together, they stand for the beauty of art and its myriad perspectives.

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On till August 1 at Punjab Kala Bhawan—16, Chandigarh.