In the current exhibition, the artist presents a series of artwork inspired by the pandemic that shows the essence of mortality
Visakhapatnam-based artist V Ramesh’s new work – a series on still life – has a strong emotional resonance.
The artist’s new works are being displayed in his solo exhibition titled ‘The Pandemic Still Life’ at Threshold Art Gallery in New Delhi. In the current exhibition, he has connected mankind through the unity of human experience and existence.
Known for the intensity of his figurative work, Ramesh likes to associate what has gone wrong with whatever he is, showing the instability of the body.
One piece depicts a bright yellow canvas of faded flowers in a vase; The other is placed in a jar around a bright orange flower with dried lifeless flowers – showing quite the contrast. A wonderful amalgamation of abstraction and realism can be seen. The artist, who has exhibited his art around the world, says that his immediate surroundings and experiences find a way on canvas. According to him, the lockdown and solitude helped him to reflect within himself. “The pandemic period has sparked a profound yet spontaneous quest within me to re-launch my artistic journey using watercolor and gouache,” says Ramesh.
Ramesh was a faculty in the Department of Fine Arts, Andhra University since 1985. He holds a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda. He was awarded the Sanskriti Puraskar in 1993 and the Senior Fellowship from the Department of Culture in 1995-97.
In his work, Ramesh seeks transparency: for the ability to see the membrane of a vessel and the world within its interior. Her watercolors allow the viewer to do just that – look at something that is impenetrable. He says, “Working in this series has been a relief for me.”
The exhibition will run till 16 October.
.