Navigating the greys of our current isolation and picking on the subtle nuances of line, shape and form, the online show ‘Black White and More’ by Emami Art, Kolkata, brings our attention towards simplicity and minimalism
Keeping to a simple palette and a singular visual language, the show ‘Black White and More’ is gentle but powerful. The idea that we live in times that are not just uncertain but are exposing us to the black and white of reality reflects quite deeply. The show not only navigates the high contrasts but the grey landscapes too through works by some of India’s finest artists – Jogen Chowdhury, Rabin Mondal, S. G. Vasudev, Dashrath Patel, Bose Krishnamachari and Manu Parekh – who put away their colourful palettes to focus instead on shades of ‘black white and more’.
Creating space for the percolation of reflection and thought, we are forced to reconcile with a certain emotion that is both alien and known to us within textures and patterns suddenly emerging. The imagery is but a small clue to the whole jigsaw puzzle of a show that does not give away its mystery. ‘Our country is going through a challenging time, but we are sure that we can overcome this hurdle by staying positive.
Being confined to the four walls of our homes for days on end is not easy, but our minds are free and our imagination has no limit. We, at Emami Art, want to spread positivity and happiness as we believe that optimism is the only way to overcome this difficult time. Beyond the black and white that we are seeing now we believe and hope that there is more,’ said Richa Agarwal, CEO, Emami Art
The soft incisions in black exposing gold in a piece by Bose Krishnamachari play with the minimalistic balance of opulence and restraint. The ‘Theatre of Life’ pieces by S.G. Vasudev are starkly dramatic against such a simplistic approach and yet use a reduced palette to invigorate the interpretation as well the image itself.
We are not only drawn to the extremes but the myriad meanings embedded within the canvases. The struggle to untangle uncertainty while maintaining a balance is quite beautifully personified with nuanced visuals throughout the show.