Rajesh Kumar
As a society, are we heading towards a tangled reality? Are we forgetting the plain and the simple that make up our life? To deconstruct the complexities that plague the human existence, Jitha Karthikeyan has curated a group show titled ‘Measures of Lucidity’ that includes paintings, drawings and video installations of some of the finest contemporary artists in our country – Arpita Singh, George Martin P J, K M Madhusudhanan, Muktinath Mondal, Parvathi Nayar, T V Santhosh and Zakkir Hussain.
In a world that constantly embraces grander things, the simple and the uncomplicated are sometimes hidden away in plain sight and often, negated. The works in the show urge you to rethink this chaos and seek pellucidity. Life and survival lie at the core of the minutiae we have missed or have chosen to ignore. The curatorial note talks of how we can find lucidity in all this if only we could navigate through complex social, political or economic layers to grasp them in our vision.
While Parvathi Nayar frequently depicts water in all of its forms as a vital component of the ecosystem and as a contemplative and allegorical source, Zakkir Hussain attempts to move beyond the beautiful to the horror concealed by the alluring presence of beauty through his paintings. His works are amputations of the history of visual representations and journey through forgotten memories.
T.V.Santhosh’s works are a response to his concerns about the global issues of war, terrorism, state oppression and the manipulation of them by the media. Resembling photographic negatives, Santhosh’s works translate current events into a critical scrutiny of media portrayals.
Courtesy- Instagram
His large scale paintings and sculptures explore historical injustices and acts of violence, while questioning our definitions of progress and nationalism.
Courtesy- Instagram
George Martin’s works play with an idea of an idea taking a physical form and where they are located in relation to each other while the combination of the personal and the political form the basis of Madhusudhanan’s works.
Courtesy- Instagram
In an interview with the daily guardian Muktinath Mondal says, “Being an artist I depict the unheard stories of the grassroot culture which is being nurtured since ages but eventually is the verge of extinction in this complex modern society of globalisation. I weave my narratives with hues of colour, rubbed brush strokes, local elements, folk songs and many rituals. I feel the urge to keep singing the unheard songs through my works.”
Moving towards an uncertain future, it is time to rethink, deconstruct and seek pellucidity, lest we lose what really matters in the cacophony of it all.
The show ‘Measures of Lucidity’ is on view until 15th February, 2023 at Gallerie Splash.
