Kochi on the verge of becoming the new art city; and two other stories

We are happy to curate trending stories for you from the many fascinating developments across the globe. Here’s the latest from the art world that you should not miss!

Indian artist’s solo show in New York

Tom Vattakuzhy’s solo show ‘Song of the Dusk’ is on view at Aicon Contemporary at New York. The artist is a painter, printmaker and illustrator from Kerala, while Aicon Contemporary is a gallery specializing in works of emerging Indian and Pakistani artists. The show captures the loneliness and uncertainty of the pandemic times. This is Vattakuzhy’s first solo exhibition aboard, and showcases six of his works. The paintings capture the fear, the uncertainty and the festering sadness of pandemic deaths. Though Tom does not usually paint a series on a preset theme, he was moved by situations and experiences he encountered during the pandemic. “Out of the six works on show, three have already been placed into collections of Indian and American collectors,” says Projjal Dutta, director of Aicon Contemporary art gallery. The show is on at the gallery till July 16. Read more on The Hindu.

Amalgamation of South Asian artists at Kalakriti Art Gallery

Kalakriti Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, titled ‘Crafting Thoughts’, curated by Ruchi Sharma, is a window to the work of some established contemporary artists from South Asia. The exhibition incorporates a wide range of artworks – immersive drawings, scintillating oil paintings, layered mixed media works, glossy acrylic paintings and sculptures created with innovative mediums. There are water colour paintings by Laxmipriya Panigrahi that put a spotlight on wildlife with absolute finesse as well as a sculpture by Chennai-based sculptor Janarthana R using materials like iron, copper and wood to depict the theme of habitation. Both artworks depict the same theme with different mediums. The multi-themed exhibition also touches on themes of feminism and spirituality, with artists depicting holy cities, spiritual practices, mythological characters and temple architecture. The show ends on July 15. Details on The New Indian Express.

A new city for the National Arts and Culture Centre

Kochi will soon have an art hub on the lines of those existing in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. The Greater Cochin Development Authority is in talks with various prominent personalities in the arts and film fraternity such as Bose Krishnamachari, president of Kochi Biennale Foundation; Shaji N Karun, chairman of State Film Development Corporation; and Murali Cheeroth, chairperson of Kerala Lalitkala Academy, on the feasibility and sustainability of the proposed National Arts and Culture Centre. “The GCDA’s prime focus is to set up an infrastructure dedicated to sports, and arts and culture,” said Authority chairman K Chandran Pillai. The National Arts and Culture Centre will transform Kochi into an art city, attracting more tourists. Read more on The New Indian Express.