The world at large

Three artists and three or more interpretations of nature — this is what makes Farak — Amongst Between 3 distinct from other art exhibitions. The exhibition, which is currently underway at PN Gadgil & Sons Art Gallery, Kothrud, is displaying works of Vrushalee Joshi, Rushikesh Kulkarni and Kiran Krishnani.
 
Joshi, through her works, has tried to provide a juxtaposition between the way nature exists and the way we depict it in our material world. “I have drawn inspiration from butterflies. I love painting in natural light. Therefore, when I paint these flitting insects, the vibrant or dull colours of their wings get highlighted in the natural light,” says Joshi, who holds a degree in Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) from Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts.

Joshi, who is training under landscape and wildlife artist Stefan Baumann, says that the butterflies we see outdoors are quite different when they are depicted on utility or home decor products. “They get a fancier overtone, which I try to avoid in my work,” she adds. In the exhibition, the artist has displayed 30 small paintings and four big canvas paintings done in acrylic colours. 

Artist Krishnani perceives nature as a form of meditation. A part time faculty at Silica Design Institute, Krishnani has an affinity towards conceptual painting and installation art. She likes to look for meaning in her work. 

“When I paint, I try to seek the meaning, so that I can present it through paintings. For instance, I need to know why I like the subject and why I want to paint it,” says Krishnani, who often works in acrylic and oils. 

The artist has chosen to look outside her window and the vistas it presented have been depicted in five scenery paintings that she is displaying in Farak... When asked why a window, she says, “It’s the window of the mind through which we can visualise and visit these places anytime. These sceneries, landscapes and waterscapes are from the places I have visited. They  remained with me. Also, nature is like meditation for me. The colours seen in natural world can never be found anywhere else.” 

Having grown up in Miraj, which is a town-not-in-a-hurry, where you can soak up nature, Kulkarni the third artist amongst the trio, has depicted plants and trees arranged in a balcony of a housing apartment.

“I miss the greenery of Miraj after moving to Pune. I find it very soothing to be amongst trees and plants and shrubbery. But here, we find greenery amidst the potted plants in a crowded balcony. I have tried to bring across this distinction in my works,” says Kulkarni, who has been a professional painter for more than a decade. 

He has done seven paintings using acrylic colours which have been displayed at the exhibition. “Plants and trees teach us to never give up, irrespective of hardships. All our lives, we only take from plants and hardly give them anything back.” 

She also points out that people spend time on social media instead of using it for self growth these days and she has tried to show that through her paintings. 

ST Reader Service 
A painting exhibition Farak is on till March 1 at P N Gadgil & Sons Art gallery, Happy Colony, Kothrud, from 11 am onwards