‘Secular’ paintings draw attention in exhibition

By:
Ritika Gupta
NAGPUR: Thirty paintings revolving around the theme ‘secularism’ caught the attention of the visitors in the three-day Secular Painting Exhibition — 2018, which started at Central Museum’s Kaladalan Hall in Civil Lines, on Friday.
The exhibition was inaugurated by president of Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan Sripad Balchandra Joshi.Thinker Tarachand Khandekar presided. Bharat Shelke, Ashok Gaikwad, Hemant Nagdive and artist Pramodbabu Ramteke were also present. Republican Movement and Muktiwahini organized the event.
Artists from Kolhapur, Mumbai, Pune, Allahabad and Satara displayed paintings at the exhibition. A painting by Pune painter Farukh Nadaf portrayed a farmer standing under the weight of cogs and wheels of modern machinery. Another painting by Mumbai artist Sravasti depicted a similar scene where a woman and her daughter are left in the lurch in the wake of her hubby’s (a farmer) suicide.
Sneha Alarskar’s artwork portrayed a female as fly trapped in a net, looking for an escape. Ramchandra Khararmal in his painting showed the Ashoka Chakra being attacked by crows, in whose feathers he has subtly essayed the colours of different political parties of the country. Lying nearby is a white dove symbolizing peace.
Ramteke, who’s the only artist from Nagpur who’s work has been displayed, said, “Through my painting, I’ve tried to depict the confusion that overtakes us when we see the unrest in the country.” His work is an explosion of colours, with no figures in sight. “An artiste’s weapon is his art. Only an unbiased artist can do justice to his work,” he added.
Commending the artists Joshi said, “ Their varied portrayal of the present condition in the nation hits a deep note.”