This Bengaluru exhibition showcases leaves from the Tree of Life

An exhibit by Varsha Patra on the Kalpavriksha – Tree of Life exhibition
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Proper by way of the ages, the Tree of Life has been a recurring idea in cultures internationally, a symbolic motif with spiritual or philosophical bearings. In India, the Tree of Life or Kalpavriksha is present in Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain texts.

This week, MKF Museum of Artwork and ArtenBlu current Kalpavriksha – an exhibition primarily based on this theme. Curated by Sadhna Menon, this present includes artworks by seven artists with numerous renderings of the identical notion.

“Reviving artwork types deeply rooted in conventional tradition has all the time been an interesting and empowering endeavour. This 12 months, rediscovering one other artwork type textile artwork, utilizing conventional methods with modern concepts is a continuation of this inventive journey. The Tree of Life is common in virtually all cultures and was chosen as a central theme,” says Sadhna, founding father of ArtenBlu, an artwork consultancy agency primarily based out of Bengaluru.

Sachin Deo, one of many collaborating artists, who has been engaged on mythological and religious themes for over many years now says for this explicit exhibition, he has expressed himself with paper folding and embossing.

“I imagine these items convey varied levels of religious progress. I’ve been readying these three-dimensional types over the previous six months,” says Sachin. Initially from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, the artist who now lives in Pune, says, “My early palette was often delicate and minimalistic even when depicting mythological elements. My work displays spirituality and contentment on this area. Although I’ve all the time used varied media, I’ve solely not too long ago begun experimenting with embossing and paper methods.”

Artist Varsha Patra has depicted the Tree of Life utilizing Aari (additionally referred to as Khatla) embroidery methods. “I’ve interpreted the idea ‘Tree of Life’ in another way in varied items. The thought, format, concept, design, colors are largely impressed by the standard crafts of our nation. The identical goes for his or her execution. It’s purely the age-old strategy of khatla hand embroidery that I exploit to create my concepts from idea to cloth.”

Abstractionist V Hariraam, who can be one of many artists on the present, says he does favour giving “a specific amount of figuration, if not an in depth bearing,” to his artwork expression. “As an summary painter who developed from figuration, I’m displaying two works close to the Tree of Life, whereas my fellow artist AM Prakash is presenting line drawings that add ornamental and design worth,” says Hariraam.

The Bengaluru-based artist who studied on the Kalamandir Faculty of Artwork, a 100-year-old artwork institution, was schooled by its founder AN Subbarao. “I started working with oils after which later moved to acrylics; over time I’ve labored with watercolours, charcoal and pencil on paper and canvas. I’m additionally an set up artist utilizing wooden and fibreglass in addition to a graphic print maker.”

Hariraam has submitted miniatures utilizing watercolours on archival paper for this exhibition; he created them through the pandemic.

“Seven artists have created an outstanding physique of labor drawing inspiration from the Tree of Life, experimenting with totally different mediums bringing a traditional but fashionable twist to the theme,” says Sadhna.

Other than Sachin Deo, V Hariraam and AM Prakash, Varsha Patra, Manjunath Wali, Mohan Vijaya Raghavan and Choti Tekam can be exhibiting their artwork at Kalpavriksha.

Kalpavriksha – Tree of Life can be on view from October 13-22 at MKF Museum of Artwork from 11am to six.30pm, on all days besides Mondays.