Narendraraghunath

DNA -Wednesday, May 12, 2010

In the beginning was the dot

Apeksha Rao / DNAWednesday, May 12, 2010 9:37 IST

Bangalore: He’s originally from Kerala, lives in Ahmedabad and used to love Bangalore, though on this visit, during which he is showcasing his works at Chitrakala Parishath, the city has disappointed artist Narendra Raghunath. “Somehow, I don’t feel like I’m in Bangalore. I see trees being cut everywhere. This is not the Bangalore I knew.” he says.


The exhibition featuring nine of the artist’s paintings is on at CKP till May 15. Explaining the central theme linking the nine paintings, Raghunath says: “For a visual artist, ‘form’ is of prime importance. The origin of all form is a dot, which is dimensionless. Two such dimensionless points join to form a line, which then has a dimension. A line has many manifestations, which I’ve been exploring through my art.”

Raghunath has refrained from bestowing titles on any of the paintings. “Every individual is made of several layers. So is a painting. There are endless ways in which one can interpret a painting. By giving abstract paintings a name, I would restrict your point of view to one thought. I do not want that,” he explains.

Using only vertical, horizontal and reclining lines, these paintings capture different moods of a city. In some, a city’s Spartan aggression comes through, while some paintings bring out its nurturing side. Yet others discuss its chaotic, vertical growth.

Talking about changing urban landscapes in his paintings, the artist comments on the much talked about concrete jungle phenomenon. “That’s reality. There is nothing to crib about. We need to accept it. We should look at it as an opening up of opportunities. Although it is high time we though and reacted smart,” he says.

Meanwhile, Raghunath’s friend and international artist SurendranKarthyayan, who’s works are also on display in the same gallery, has a completely different take on this.

He believes that nature is being delineated by human activity and this concerns him. “I’m trying to elevate human minds through my art,” says the Kerala- based artist. Point out that blues and greens dominate his color palette and the aritst says: “That is the proof of my affection towards nature.”In all his works,tiny flowers, seeds and leaves transform into shapes of prominence. The Lalit Kala Akademi Award winner’s paintings in this exhibition revolve around the relationship between nature and tourism.

link :bangalore/report_in-the-beginning-was-the-dot_1382047