Arpitha Reddy’s paintings go beyond ethos of murals: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant
New Delhi / October 23, 2023
New Delhi, Oct 23: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant hailed the art-works of Arpitha Reddy at the Vishwatma exhibition in the capital, saying the 50 paintings hold universality that transcends their themes beyond mythology.
The image on Vishnu-incarnate Padmanabha is one instance of the eclectic artist’s skills in fusing contemporaneity into tradition, according to Kant, an IAS officer of Kerala cadre. Highlighting a section of works based on Kerala murals, he noted those works go beyond the intricacies of the frescoes at the famed Guruvayur temple. “Arpitha’s colours and textures mirror her depth of understanding about such a complex subject,” added Kant. “To me, it brings back memories of high devotion and simple traditions of that part of our country.”
Praising scholar-critic Uma Nair, who has curated the October 19-25 Vishwatma at Bikaner House, Kant said the notes to the paintings on display were lucid and their frames outstanding. “For example, ‘Lexicon of the Lotus’. It is a masterpiece.”
Kant, along with former bureaucrat U.P. Singh and US-based investment banker Yakub Mathew, lit the lamp at the venue on Sunday evening. Also present was collector-connoisseur Renu Modi of Gallery Espace time, as visitors discussed the depth of the week-long show.
Arpitha, who holds a Masters in Drawing and Painting (from Hamidia College at Bhopal in 2009), said she was particular not to repeat topics that often form themes for Indian murals. “My exposure to a range of arts helps me work so,” pointed out the 53-year-old winner of awards and honours, having held exhibitions in cities within the country and abroad.
On Monday (Navami), curator Uma Nair led a walk, guiding 50 students from College of Art Delhi and their HoD Ramesh Kandagiri. “Arpitha’s works,” she reiterated, “bank on tantric elements in ways that take our antiquity forward,” she said about Vishwatma.
Kandagiri said the art-works at the show were telling examples of Arpitha’s concepts about not just visuals but the Purana-s as a whole. Concurring, top artist Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi spoke of a “deep connection” between the artist and the essence of universe.
Kuchipudi exponent Raja Reddy, while lauding Arpitha’s dedication, said the artist could return full-fledged to her passion despite being an MA in Political Science. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram hailed the “colour schemes”, highlighting the choice of hues that make art “very impressive”.
Art historian Aman Nath described Arpitha as a “relay-revivalist” among those into artistic engagements that will enable Bharat to sustain its distinction as the world’s most ancient civilisation alive. Water-colour master Sudip Roy praised Arpitha for her “prudent use of shades and intelligent compositions”, even as abstract artist Nupur Kundu said the exhibits exemplify the meticulousness in the treatment of themes.
To artist Jai Khanna, Vishwatma is a “wonderful take” on the swaroopas of Vishnu, while sculptor Neeraj Gupta noted that Arpitha’s works were a “different presentation” on temple art. Added artist Ompal Sansanwal: “The technique is what really makes these old themes topical.” Ace lensman Manoj Arora, hailing especially the ‘Gajendra Moksham’, noted that the intertwining of Vishnu and Ganesha as figures in an art show is “unique”.
Vishwatma chiefly has three segments: a 16-work series titled Namam depicting the Vaishnava tilak in various colours and a 15-painting Sumangala as an assemblage of auspicious symbols, besides the Dashavataras that portray the 10 halloed manifestations of the lord. Also, there are singular studies, the most important being the Panchmukhi Ganesha, alongside some figurative images that extol the Kerala tradition of murals.
The show, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., is open till this Wednesday.
