A Visual Impact

The gallery at the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy is brimming with fresh perspectives, which find expression on canvas, in wood and stone, on the screen and in photographs. More than 80 works are part of the Akademi's annual art exhibition, and professional artists and students have found space to showcase their talent and artwork. The jury, comprising acclaimed artist Sudarshan Shetty, recommended names for awards and selected the works out of 115 entries. "To know the sheer number of artists working in Chandigarh today, despite the limelight pointed elsewhere, was inspiring. It was tough to choose just a few works for the awards, but I hope I have done justice, even partially, as it is vastly a matter of subjective perception," reflects Shetty. The exhibition is an annual feature in which artists residing in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali compete for awards and exhibit their artwork.

In the professional category, Alka Kalra's Dhaba 1 in acrylic is an arresting work, for its sheer size and simplicity. A huge kadhai with a ladle in which bread is being fried is the only element on the canvas and creates an impact, as does award-winner Mahesh Prajapati's work called At the Dining Table. The intaglio has a regal looking man seated alone at a table, replete with delicacies, as he stares on with a blank expression, his eyes shining on his dark face. Randeep Singh plays with various elements to capture heads in his photograph titled Out of frame in the well framed. Many contexts create this picture, which comprises four frames. "These are sculptures of heads of models, who provide their services at the city's art college. After a few years, when they become old, they become redundant. This holds true for workers in every sphere of life. They are out of frame and completely lost,'' reflects Singh, for whom the human element in any work of art is of paramount importance.

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