A cross section of contemporary paintings

'Cold Blast' as an exhibition, presents before us a cross section of contemporary paintings done by Indian contemporary artists. These artists experiment not only with the ideas and make ideological interventions but also they indulge in experimenting with various materials and surfaces. Also, this show of seven artists proves that aesthetic interventions are possible even through the medium of painting even if some people say that painting has now become a 'conventional' medium.

Critique of totalitarian ideologies has a perennial charm for the artists. Vinod Balak presents an ironic world where the social and democratic ideologies transform themselves into totalitarian regimes in due course of time, and also he envisions worlds where erstwhile egalitarian ideas becoming contemporary market commodities. Through the mode of allegory he creates icons of our times. In 'My Master was a Communist', the artist weaves several spheres of socio-cultural production into one singular image.

In 'Pig Factory' too Vinod Balak brings forth the same dark humor through the evocation of an 'animal farm' where pigs slowly become the wielders of power. The ordered nature of a pig sty and their uniformed presence and the camaraderie amongst them doubtlessly underline the fact that the artist is hell bent on forwarding a critique on the existing forms of communist ideologies. Beyond, the political color, these works become examples of contemporary human beings who are led by avarice and herd mentality.

On the other hand, Sujil's language looks too conventional to be defiant. The watercolor wash and the precision drawing make the onlooker think about the golden days of artistic craftsmanship. The subtlety of rendering and the tenderness of the images position the artist as a romantic who has been searching for his wilderness to lose himself.

Though the works give an impression of a romantic painter, the intensity with which the artist treats them tell us that the artist aspires for the purity of the mediums that he uses and through this purity he wants to reach out to ideas that are dear to him; from love to nature. Purity is not a negative notion in Sujil. For him, purity is all about identity; giving autonomy to each aspect of his works.

(Information courtesy: Chaithanya Art Gallery, Kochi)