Indian artists at the Luce Gallery group show - I

A significant group show of Indian artists takes place in Italy. Luce Gallery presents 'Indian Rainbow' splashing colourful and captivating works of artists Atul Dodiya, Justin Ponmany, Thukral & Tagra, TV Santhosh and Jagannath Panda.

Jagannath Panda, born in Bhubaneswar in 1970, is known to paint his pet themes through motifs like mythical animals apparently banished from their natural environ and thus made to experience the unsavoury drama of cramped urban living. While setting up his favourite painting subjects - these animals in an enigmatic and magical atmosphere, he comes up with a critique of present-day trend of rampant urbanization that stands quite in contrast to his noble idea of the sacredness and purity of nature.

As part of his intense creative churning, the commonplace object tends to acquire subtle symbolic stature, representing aspirations or at times, rigid dogmas. Environmental and serious social issues concern this socially aware practitioner. Atul Dodiya, born in Mumbai in 1959, tends to explore historical, political and social realities. The artist often does so by experimenting with varied media, forms and styles.

The outcome is a ‘cultural patchwork’ at times laden with subtle references to Western literature and cinema that he juxtaposes with traditional and mythical elements drawn from his home country’s rich culture. Bringing out the essence of his practice, the artist has stated: “My works try to weave the past with the pressing present concerns, underlining ironies of the situation.”

Justin Ponmany, born in Kerala in 1974, employs a peculiar form of oleographic painting. The artist is known to do so in order to capture the very essence of contemporaneity. The chromatic richness of his artwork makes it particularly gripping. This facet of his work changes depending on the intensity of the lighting and also the viewer's vantage point. Using photos as core of his creations, the artist imbues the surfaces with a host of materials like resin, plastic, printer’s ink, holograms salt etc; this to conceive rugged stylistic effects. He also employs traditional acrylic paint, charcoal and smoke.