Artworks on display at Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Gallery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Different styles of abstract work have brought together emerging and experienced artists,” says Adhvika Agarwal, who has curated Rang Mirage Art Gallery’s latest exhibition Abstract Alchemy: A Fusion of Form and Colour. It showcases the works of nine artists and brings an amalgamation of a wide range of abstract art in a series where each canvas is different from the other and yet connected through non-representational art.

Mahesh Karambele’s painting titled New Beginning displayed at Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Gallery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Adhvika says abstract art, even without any recognisable form, has a way of conveying a plethora of emotions to the viewer. Talking about New Beginning, an artwork by Mahesh M. Karambele, she says the painting makes you feel like you are standing by the sea with a deep and vivid sunset engulfing the horizon in the background. “Another artist can interpret the same painting in a completely different way; that is the magic and beauty of abstract work as an art form,” she adds.

Artworks on display at Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Gallery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Inspiration

Artist Bhola Rana explains how his native place Jharkhand plays an important role in shaping his art and the vision he creates. His canvas titled Black Diamond is all about coal. “I have used red and black colours to depict the frequent fires in coal mines, which often lead to the death of workers,” he says.

In another work, using acrylic on red canvas, Rana depicts the continuing process of urbanisation not only on land but also within the ocean trenches. His colour palette is minimal, yet strong and gives the viewer a raw image of a non-figurative art.

Acrylic on canvas by Vivek Nimbolkar at Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Gallery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The same abstract imagery can be seen in Renu Jain’s Glimpses of Nature, where she has used a reverse painting style using mixed media on acrylic. “As an artist, what you paint on one side is not what the viewer sees on the other side. Every painting creates multiple layers of understanding,” she says and through her paintings talks about the depletion of natural surroundings due to continuous urbanisation. “The objects displayed here take the isolated living spaces in nature to a magical realm of artistic expressions,” says Renu.

Attempt

Artist Kirti Agarwal talks about the importance of learning and what goes behind the hard work of an artist. “It is not just a random brush stroke, but days or months of hard work behind a painting that may look like a splash of colours to many others,” she says.

Art curator Manisha Gawade and artist Naval Kishore at the Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Art Gallery | Photo credit: Special Arrangement

Artist Naval Kishore, who inaugurated the exhibition, and curator Manisha Gawade believe that in this era of turmoil and negativity that we live in, only art and culture can bring positivity. “Abstract art has its own importance as it helps in contemplating creativity and healing,” says Kishore.

He said, “The sound of the cuckoo is incomprehensible but is soothing to the ears; in the same way, abstract things may not have any form but they give a feeling of peace to the observer.”

Artworks on display at Abstract Alchemy exhibition at Rang Mirage Gallery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Other artists whose paintings are displayed in the exhibition include Bipin Roy, Deepak Sonar, Vivek Nimbolkar, Kishore Roy, Gopal Namjoshi and Rajesh Baderia.

At Rang Mirage Art Gallery, A-58, Central Avenue, Sainik Farms; Till June 25; 11am to 7pm

Shaan Gupta