A photography show - Bangalore

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

A few days ago a photography show In Focus previewed at Hatworks Boulevard where six photographers presented their recent works. Photography as a fine art form is still in its nascent stages in the country, and, as this exhibition was organized by a mainstream art gallery, it sounded promising enough to tempt one to venture forth in the evening traffic. And, it turned out to be a very interesting show with excellent images on view.

Most of these photographers have a fine arts background, and with an exception of a couple of them, they have exhibited their works widely. The visuals that they have presented capture delicate nuances derived from and related to urban living. Their inspiration ranges from crystalline reflections in still waters, the rapidly evolving skyline, graffiti on walls, and other urban phenomenon – concrete and emotional. For instance, Gigi Scaria first creates his own sculpture / installation which he then transports to the chosen site before photographing it. And, his sculptures are in fact elaborately detailed artworks that are crafted with meticulous precision. On the other hand, Atul Bhalla, a multifaceted artist, continues his penchant with water, where delicate reflections in the depths of water evoke a sense of beauty and contemplation that is almost surreal.

Preeti Sood, who is a trained printmaker based in the UK has photographed walls with peeled plasters and posters. The images not only capture visual textures but combined with graffiti and torn lettering / pictures give an entirely new identity to the images. Rachel Immanuel is a graphic artist, and this is the second time she is exhibiting in Bangalore. Her intense black and white images are an exploration of the complexities and conflicts arising out of urban dichotomies.

Bangalore based Vivek Vilasini focuses on the absurd in the most unusual of circumstances. In a dump yard outside London he finds a stone statue of Buddha and a replica of the Statue of Liberty along with heavy artillery. The incongruity of the combination or co-existence of the varied objects cannot escape the viewer. While, Shankar Natarajan presents the fragility of relationships - the alignment of the profiles of the protagonists poses and answers questions that are loaded with a sense of expectancy. Overall, the exhibition is definitely worth a visit.

(The exhibition continues till July 25 at Crimson Art Resource, Bangalore)

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)