While the city’s art scene has been burgeoning, there has been a dearth of showcases by critically-acclaimed artists. “Not to say that there are exact rules that can define good or bad art, if so then it would be a science. But as consumers of art, we need to decide if the object is being truthful to the truth as defined by the artist,” begins Ishrat Humairah, curator of The Silent Tree exhibition. Spurred by the idea that art needed to be expression centric, as opposed to a drawing centric trend the city-based entrepreneur began working towards hosting an immersive experience that showcases art in its varied forms, including smell and sound. As an artist who primarily paints in the abstract with landscapes and nature being her signature elements, Ishrat decided to single out one aspect of nature — a tree, and curate an entire show around it. Celebrating the idea of deep-rooted trees as a metaphor for life, love, longing and desire, 22 artists will present paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs and the spoken word at the first edition of
On until September 4. At Art Houz. From 10.30 am to 7 pm.
Untitled by Vipta Kapadia
For Vipta Kapadia her relationship with nature is something that is more deep-rooted. From being part of her childhood memory to her muse for most of her paintings, nature though in the abstract has always been the main subject. “I remember years ago, sitting on my balcony, looking at this one tree. We can learn such a great deal of patience from a tree. This exhibition has brought to the forefront those memories from yesteryear,” shares the Mumbai-based artist. Defining her works as a showcase of those aspects of nature which are present yet implicit — like strength and silence in adversity, Vipta will be showcasing six paintings featuring a colour palette of blue, brown, green and yellow as oil on canvas.
The artist will also be part of a talk on her journey, inspirations and the use of colour in her art. On September 3. From 5 pm to 6 pm.
Kalpavriksha by Bhaskara Rao
Using trees as his leitmotif, Hyderabad-based artist Bhaskara Rao attributes a great deal to the cultural significance that they hold to his choice of subject. Having started out dabbling with figurative art and then landscapes, the current Dean of Arts at Loyola Academy says, “They have a significant role in our cultural landscape for they not only yield fruits but provide shade as well. My fondness for trees goes back to when I was a child and would play under them or tie a swing to the branches.” Presenting two of his paintings from the Kalpavriksha series — Tree of Life I and II, the artist uses a vibrant colour palette to give the trees a mystical, surreal appearance. “Just like every leaf is a different shade of green, each leaf on my trees offer me a chance to experiment with texture and pigment.”
Tree Spirit by Shamshad Khan
Shamshad Khan’s portraits of trees are reflections of a living form. “Not the loose definition of the term pertaining to something that has life, but a living form that has emotion, is capable of forming bonds and can communicate.” Presenting two of her images from the series Tree spirit from 2018, the Bengaluru-based photographer who has styled and conceptualised images for brands like Titan and Tanishq, tries to portray the emotional bond that trees share with plant and animal life around them. “My work directly respond to the surrounding environment and uses everyday experiences from the artist as a starting point. Often these are framed instances that would go unnoticed in their original context.” Specifically shot on the occasion of World Environment Day which coincided with International Orangutan Day, one of her two untitled images captures a frame, where the branches of a tree form an orangutan’s face.
Mystical connections by Silky Arora
Trying to find answers to the questions that she raises through her artwork about climate change, artist Silky Arora hopes to highlight sustainable development and conscious consumption through her wall art and sculptures that she will be presenting at the exhibition. “As a designer that works with interior spaces, I look at design as an intersection of art and sustainability,” explains the 31-year-old who uses fallen twigs, dry leaves, pressed flowers and recycled paper for her creations. Working on a mixed medium, the artist whose installations can be found at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, tells us that she uses natural inks for her wall art. Showcasing her artwork from the Mystical Connection series, the Pratt Institute graduate says that the series is about an unknown world of trees with its endless networks.
The New-Delhi based artist will host an interactive session on Sustainability by Design. On September 1. From 5 pm to 6 pm.
Untitled by Ashok Bhowmick
Bengali artist Ashok Bhowmick has gained national renown over 45 years working by paper or canvas, commenting on how social conditioning has created a predetermined idea of what art is. “Paintings aren’t an illustration of a text. They have a grammar of their own and need to be freed from the confines of language and stereotypical thinking,” begins the artist who is known for his cross-hatching technique. Displaying two of his early black and white works, the artist says that the paintings fall into the gamut of his understanding of the theme. “The paintings are untitled because I’ve learnt to view art from what one can call Tagore’s perspective. Paintings are silent. They don’t explain, they express. Paintings are not read, they are felt.” Echoing his sentiment through his painting of a woman and a tree whose roots run deep, the piece is a play on dark and light spaces through the use of his cross-hatching textural detailing and a controlled arrangement of lines.
Tree of Wisdom by Navdeep Kaur
The only installation at the five-day showcase, artist Navdeep Kaur’s light installation, Tree of Wisdom, is handmade from eco-printed paper using fallen leaves, fruits and vegetables. Portrayed as a deconstructed tree, the founder of Bengaluru-based research studio The Colour Workshop says, “The installation denotes the disconnect with nature. The artwork was conceptualised when a plethora of trees were being felled in Bengaluru.” Symbolising a positive change towards sustainable practices, the artist tells us that if one were to look at the mirror on the floor (which is part of the installation), the deconstructed tree appears to be one whole.