Urban Myths through the eyes of painters

Team L&M

A group show of paintings, Urban Myths, is on at the Bikaner House, New Delhi. The works at the exhibition, being presented by Nero Art Hub and curated by Ranbir Rathi, are sure to being a dash of freshness into your lives.

The group exhibition has brought together both senior and emerging artists from diverse backgrounds, each of who has responded to the concept of urban myths in the here and now of modern living even as they revisit their roots in their own unique visual language. The participating artists include Ashok Bhowmick , Akshay Sakla, Dharmendra Rathore, Harmendra Rathore, Komakula Shekhar, Mahavir Verma, Rajesh Baderia, Ranjan Kaul, Ranveer Rao, Ranjith Raghupathy, Tapan Dash.

Art work of Komukola Raja Sekher 

Myths, as we all know, are traditional narratives concerning the early history of people, usually of unknown origin, often related to religious beliefs, superstition or translations of real events that transmute into stories with passing time. As people migrate to towns and cities in search of livelihoods, they carry with them ancient stories of their rural backgrounds.

The show offers an evocative panorama of individualised figurative and semi-abstract art forms. The artist have used varying innovative techniques, experimentation, and expressive textures like cross-hatching, exaggerated detailing, thick brushstrokes, vibrant, unreal colours, and even moving out of the confines of a well-defined space etc to bring out their latent thoughts regarding urban myths.

An art work by Dharmendra Rathore

“These paintings are a manifestation of an internal urge. I have always been trying to depict a transitory journey of my life, Dimension Beyond. Through this journey I have tried to depict the lowest to the highest plains in which the human soul unites with the cosmic soul,” says Artist Sajal Patra. “When we start going inward, we find ourselves connected on an entirely different level- a place where the observer and the observed becomes one. They merge into one another and become complete. This is my journey to the spiritual world as expressed through my paintings,” adds Patra

“These drawings are a re-enactment of the millions of lifeboats that were pushed ashore with a desire for redemption. These works are also a redefinition of the interrelationships between nature, man and their socio-political life from a highly mechanical and complex world. Images of human kindness, messages of sacrifice, star-studded nightmares and intense thoughts of spouses are the subjects of these exhibits,” says artist S Ramakrishnan.

An artwork by Mahavir Verma 

“Attempts have also been made to depict nature, to transform experiences and thoughts from one’s own life situations into an independent aesthetic experience. These works capture lives of the masses who are not considered to be the makers of time and history. Desires, disappointments, hopes and consolations are portrayed here as life moves fast,” adds Ramakrishnan.

An artwork by Sanjay Sawant

The show is on till May 26, 11am to 6pm