It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon. The AC hums in the background as I walk towards a gracefully static figure. Titled the ‘Torso of a Woman,’ by Atreyee Bhatacharjee, the figure is a medley of iron, cement and terracotta, a representation of how land (real estate) is deceptively marketed. Showcased at Art Houz in Chennai, this work is one of the many exhibits that are part of Land Spaces, which attempts to delve into the idea of land and how humans have utilised landscapes in order to retain their existence on earth.
In ‘Torso of a Woman,’ the woman’s torso signifies fertile land and the cone on top with a construction form, represents trading of land. Metaphorically, it portrays how women are exploited by the system of marketing and sales. ‘Story of Pillars’, on the other hand, by the same artist depicts three major social crises: random urbanization, capitalism and exploitation of land and farmers.
Curated by G Vignesh, this exhibition which is a collaborative work of ten artists, seeks to explore the concept of ‘spaces within a space’ through different artistic media, brought together over a year.
For instance, Ritwik Mondal questions the consumption of resources in the context of urbanisation, through his work. “I have looked at our modes of interacting with the natural environment through the use of forms which are normal in an urban environment, and subverted the same forms with textures from Google maps, and rendered on the surface,” he explains. The shift from a rural to urban, strikes the reverse of a naturally nourished environment, he says questioning our habits, interaction, and consumption of landscapes as a society.
Sonali Laha’s work is a blend of watercolor and traditional tempera painting on paper. This work primarily deals with body, space and the concept of soul. “In my work I try to freeze some moments in life, which are static and silent in expression. It’s about the phase where your mind is chaotic but the actions are numb,” she explains. One of her works, ‘Confused Between Two Lands’ — two paintings of a contemplative woman which hang diagonally opposite to each other — leave its viewers with varied interpretations. Another artist, Vignesh seeks to utilise this exhibition as a platform to create awareness of arts and culture in the city and highlight environmental issues through art. “We live in a time where the greens around us are rapidly turning into grays,” he worries.
‘Land Spaces’ will be on display at Art Houz, Nungambakkam, Chennai till July 10.