Fresh start this year- Neeraja Murthy,THE HINDU

In mid 2018, artist Sachin Jaltare kept his canvases aside to try his hand at clay. He took a shot at sculptures and was happy and excited at his first-time creations. “For someone who has worked with acrylics and oils, I wanted to get a feel of clay. It is important for an artist to constantly seek mediums,” he states, adding that it paves way to new ideas.

With a refreshed mind, he went back to his canvases to create a new series of works displayed at Kalakriti Art Gallery recently. “It was a learning experience. With canvases we are used to working in a two-dimensional surface and suddenly the artist has to learn to work on a three or four dimensional surface which also provides an opportunity to create many things,” adds Sachin. He feels a painting ensures instant result whereas sculptures can surprise the artist. “Sculptures involve different technical steps and one cannot be sure of what the outcome might be.” His only challenge was to get figures in sculpture and also not lose the essence of his theme.

Give artist Saraswathi a sheet of fibre glass and she will turn it into a two-wheeler and create a work of art on it. For a few days now, she has been working on a new Bajaj Chetak scooter parked in a corner of her apartment complex. In fact, this novel exhibit shaped like a scooter will have Krishna too sitting on it and both have been created out of fibre glass. Everyday she sets aside a few hours to paint this ‘scooter’s’ body. She admits it is tough but loves the challenge.

She had earlier painted a Vespa scooter which attracted much attention. “I had painted on a real Vespa scooter. It was done in a way where in people could drive on this colourful vehicle or keep the Vespa at home as a work of art,” she recalls.

Saraswathi feels this fresh start boosts one’s creativity. “When you do something new, there is enthusiasm. It doesn’t matter how the work will turn out but the will encourage to work more.” She recalls her tryst while painting a Volvo car door in 2013. “I learnt how to select colours and draw them. It was a memorable experience and I also learnt the nuances and intricacies of painting a vehicle.”

After creating conceptual works from paper pulp, paper mache, fibre and fibreglass, artist Dinesh Pimple has rest his eyes on combining different mediums for his new endeavour. “I am combining metal, teak wood and a glass sheet for my new work,” he states. His art of work is a chair inspired by our mythology and culture.

“A taambulam consists of haldi, kumkum, glass bangles and a blouse piece. Women give it to married women and these items have a special significance; I have create this conceptual antique work based on those influences.” His work for the ‘chair’ began by buying a teakwood scrap at a furniture shop. “I bought the chair but was unsure of how I wanted to do it. My subconscious mind and a trip to a temple gave me clarity. I saw the richness of our culture and understood the reason for these rituals. I have tried to incorporate them in my work.” Dinesh plans to create 15 such chairs and exhibit them. “It is a slow process and I take my own time to do it,” he smiles.