Chennai exhibit Varnal Vaasal brought a vibrant blend of tradition and modernity to Kalpa Druma from July 10-12.
Spanning everything from vivid encapsulations of Indian heritage and culture to interpretations of nature, wildlife and people, each piece at the exhibit invited pause, reflection and immersion with its stories.
Featuring 32 emerging artists – a majority of whom were presenting the first exhibit of their art careers – the exhibit brimmed with enthusiasm and passion, beckoning us to indulge in the worlds their brushes brought to life.
A chemist and corporate employee, Vinodhini Mohan‘s work is rooted in elements of nostalgia. Celebrating the charm of the past and capturing the importance of preserving our memories, Vinodhini’s signature style taps into the enriching layers of vintage-themed stories. Visualising cameras and books to hourglasses and handwritten letters, the warming brown tones of her paintings invite us to embrace our past with love.
Time continues to be an important motif in Inthumathi Thiaghu‘s work which brings femininity, confidence and solitude together within her vibrant brush strokes. In a world that doesn’t afford women the luxury of slowing down, Inthumathi’s paintings are a celebration of women reclaiming their power and time as they slow down and take in the world around them the way they deserve.
While Inthumathi and other exhibiting artists like Sharmila Ramsamy and Padmini also encapsulate humanity, emotions, heritage, traditions in their stories, there are others whose brush strokes weave stories laden with nature and mythology in equal parts.
Gandhimathi evokes freedom, adventure and hope with her innovative storytelling that imagines human experience without visualising humanity ; in her work ‘Journey Without End’ she paints the elegance of a ship sailing at open sea, capturing the stories of expectation, yearning and serenity that live within it.
Meanwhile, educator Veeralakshmi‘s bold yet tranquil brush strokes weave a tale of innocence and playfulness as it shows a baby elephant in its natural element, exploring forests and streams. The beauty of her style rests in how she brings out intricate stories with expansive and striking splashes of colour.
In contrast, Jessica Mary Lanney‘s piece showcases nature and animals with a textured approach where the details among the warming colours draw you in.
Amidst the grounding tales of the world, Prathibha G infuses divinity and symbolism into her work. Her two paintings which draw from her preference of mythology depicts popular scenes from Ramayana and the Churning for Amrit, juxtaposing deception from a good versus evil perspective.
If Pratibha’s mythological interpretations are rooted in hypnotic, dreamlike narratives, Nachiar‘s portrayal of the relationship between Lord Shiva and Nandi is embedded in a sense of realism that evokes stillness and devotion.
Weaving layered stories etched with enchantment and the grit of humanity equally, Varnal Vaasal at Kalpa Druma was an experience founded upon curiosity and creativity that left us wanting more.
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