Mixed Mediums: This exhibition in Bangalore brings together two artists from contrasting genres

Art @ Urban Solace — a gallery for creative visual self-expression is hosting an exhibition featuring the surrealist works of Kailash Mani and the landscape paintings of Yasmin Clare. We sat down for a conversation as I was curious about the artists and the inspiration that came together for this exhibition from very contrasting genres and areas of interest. Here’s what we gathered…

surrealism synchronization
An English teacher by day and artist by night, Kailash Mani has exhibited his work across the country and even in Thailand. However, this is the first time that they will be exhibited in Bangalore. The artist describes his style as “surrealistic, incorporating elements of expressionism, realism, and pop art, but I think its meaning is easy to understand.” Everyday objects and situations, both realistic and fantastical, inspire him. However, for this exhibition, Kailash has decided to focus more on his functional artworks.

“The meaning and value of art is clearly changing, especially with the influence of AI tools and social media. Instead of lamenting this, I have chosen to adapt by creating functional art. These We hope that our works will help bring more beauty and imagination to everyday life while being affordable. Viewers can also choose the work and choose how they want to use it. I appreciate this element that invites the viewer into the creative process,” says the artist.

In terms of genre, there are many surrealist works. Kailash first experimented with this style of surrealism, particularly the depiction of bizarre situations, in his early adulthood, but for many years thereafter he pursued portraiture exclusively. “In an exhibition I held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2014, I displayed portraits that I had created over a period of about five years, mostly fictional subjects that I created. I found myself experimenting with surrealism again, but with more vibrant colors and incorporating more nuance in terms of the meaning behind each piece.” he says.

To that end, in most of his chalk pastel and charcoal illustrations featured in the exhibition, he juxtaposed colors and their meanings. For example, he chooses bright colors in a piece titled: sad tomato, although the subject matter is solemn. This creates a dissonance and allows the viewer to dig deeper into the work.

Return to Gaia
Yasmin Claire, on the other hand, is not a formally trained artist. She grew up surrounded by art and always dreamed of being able to paint someday. During her COVID-19 lockdown, this dream finally became a reality. She began using every material and color available to her and let her imagination run free. As a result, she regained her calm even in the midst of chaos, and she began working on one piece every day.

While Kailash’s work is surrealist, Yasmin creates forest landscapes that wish to “replace every space on Earth.” It is no surprise, then, that the works featured in the exhibition seem to have been born out of a longing for a return to Gaia, a cry that recognizes the need for true green spaces full of foliage. When asked about her work at the exhibition, the artist said: god of the forest I feel close to it because I want all forests to be protected.This ambiguous spirit is like AranyaniThey are always protecting our forests. Chorao Mangrove This is my attempt to photograph the stunning mangroves that make up Chorao Island in Goa. “Circe’s Island” is a tribute to the much maligned witch Circe from the epic poem The Odyssey.

Another theme that Yasmin explores through her work is the interpretation of mythological characters, especially those who exist solely to propel the protagonist forward. “I empathize and sympathize with mythological characters who paid a great price to be who they are.” Not in the exhibit is the story of the death of Orpheus. “I did,” she says.

She loves natural landscapes, so she explores blue and green as the most common colors in her palette. But what intrigued us the most was the answer we got when we asked about the materials she uses to create her paintings. “Tea bags, coffee, salt, acrylic paint, cardboard, canvas, watercolors, and last but not least, cat and dog fur. My furry family members are also contributors,” she says. ended the conversation with a smile.

free entrance. Until October 22nd. At Ulsol.

Email: prattusa@newindianexpress.com
Twitter: @MallikPrattusa

Also read: Gallery G hosts art exhibition featuring works by artists Xiang Le and Romicon Revola