Solo of recent works by artist Vijay Belgave

A solo exhibition of recent works by Vijay Belgave takes place at Jamaat Gallery, Munbai. He is an artist that the gallery is proud to have discovered in 1999, when the venue was opened. Since then the artist has been featured in several of its group and solo shows.

He has developed wonderfully over time. Incidentally, his works in this solo show are a far cry from the dark albeit brilliant works the gallery first showed. Originally from Latur, a city of Maharashtra, Vijay Blegave moved to Mumbai after the shattering earthquake there. He only survived by taking refuge in a temple as the modest family home was destroyed. Greatly influenced by the destruction, sorrow and misery there, his works showed a touch of pain and reflected the darkness in his home town to an extent.

Living and surviving in the city, finding success and love, he moved to better materials, brighter hues, more sophisticated imagery, continuing to work in his genre of painting on canvas. His icons were expressive, reflective faces, elegant and moving in their compositions.

A gallery note mentions that ‘Memories/memoirs’ is his new show, in which he has stepped out and shown his childhood games as a fond memory with his muse , the reflective feminine face. Using mixed media, photography, oils, pastels, inks, the artist has a more mature composition and muted palate. Dwelling on his childhood, a carefree, happy time that was, Vijay Blegave bring us his memories in his painted memoirs.

His art tends to revolve around the themes of love and the pain emanating out of unmet expectations. The love could be of different shades and hues as he sees it. He has been inspired by the simplicity of the rusty rural life, especially by sensitive albeit strong womenfolk there. He can see their pathos and pain of those unfulfilled dreams coming across. His paintings carry wide expanses of empty spaces with innovative textures spluttered with a few abstract forms and the stylized figures that convey the theme of unbounded love.