Art Contrasts: Human Form Explored

Akar Prakar gallery is currently hosting an exhibition titled 'Friends,' which juxtaposes the works of Tapan Bhattacharya and the late Vivan Sundaram. This exhibition offers divergent perspectives on the human form through paintings and sculptures. Bhattacharya's paintings delve into elemental human representations, often appearing dreamlike and abstract, while Sundaram's mixed-media sculptures from his 2013 'Postmortem' series deconstruct human anatomy. These sculptures examine the fundamental building blocks of human identity and the concept of self.

Bhattacharya describes his art as speaking "of the irreducibility of imagined forms," where his human figures recall creatures and exist in a state of primal being. His paintings, such as 'False Totality,' transform party scenes into dreamlike totems. Vivan Sundaram, who was Bhattacharya's mentor and a lifelong friend, significantly supported Bhattacharya's artistic journey. Their collaboration dates back to 1997 with an installation project at the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

The exhibition is thoughtfully curated by Geeta Kapur, Sundaram's wife, who is an art critic and historian. It is notable how the artists' distinct forms resonate with shared ideas. For instance, a Bhattacharya painting features a skull within a pregnant woman, echoing themes found in Sundaram's skeletal jawline reconstructions. The exhibition runs until October 31.