Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 785 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
Bengaluru’s Gallery Time and Space recently wrapped up an exhibition titled Organic Reverie, with a wide range of artistic interpretations of nature’s essence. More than representations, the exhibition of artworks by 25 artists also invites experiences of the beauty, energy and spirituality of nature.
The charming gallery in Lavelle Road has over a thousand artworks in stock, and the website allows viewers to browse through the works of 85 artists. See our coverage of its earlier exhibitions here.
Each work in this recent exhibition serves as a window into the organic world, capturing not just the picturesque aspect of nature but also the spiritual energy that animates every living being within the environment.
“Viewers commended the exhibition for being inspiring and therapeutic, and also ‘not pretentious like other galleries’ but aesthetic and vibrant,” gallery director Renu George tells YourStory. Some other comments were: “Amazing collection” and “Would like to visit again”.
The featured artists, some of whose works are showcased in this photo essay, include Abdul Salam, Amitabh Sengupta, Anand Bekwad, Ananth Nayak, Bharati Sagar, Bhaskar Gauribandar, Bhavani GS, Chaitali Chanda, Dhiraj Choudhury, Durgaprasad Bandi, Humera Ali, and John Pereira
The artist lineup also features Kayalvizhi, Maredu Ramu, Prasanna Kumar, Pressy Nathan, Satyabrata Das, Shakti Vel, Shirley Mathew, Shivakumar Sunagar, Subir Dey, Sujata Kar Saha, Sukesan Kanka, Sultana Hasan, and Suresh Pushpangathan.
The artworks include photographic prints, mixed media, cyanotype, tempera, etching, acrylic, oil, and watercolour on paper, board and canvas. They are priced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 4 lakh.
“The artworks were taken from our stock, as we wanted them to fit into our theme. When you commission work, you’re never sure what you will receive,” George explains.
Sometimes, the artist is not able to feel inspired to do the particular work. “In this case, we just had to select from artworks that were done spontaneously,” she adds.
The gallery also hosts art events like art appreciation courses, artist dialogues, group discussions, book launches, and even music concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, and experimental theater.
The space is truly welcoming to individual collectors, corporates, interior designers, architects, and art lovers. It is conveniently located in the bustling UB City area as well.
George is now working on an exhibition and sale of artworks by The Society of Contemporary Artists of Kolkata. “This society was founded in 1960 and has had many masters,” George says.
They include the late Gopal Ghosh, late Somnath Hore, late Suhas Roy, Ganesh Haloi, Manu Parekh, BR Panesar, Akhil Chandra Das, Aditya Basak, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Bimal Kundu, and others.
“We try to show young and talented artists as well as established and renowned artists as both these categories are important,” George affirms.
The masters are spotlighted for their brilliance and the young artists are given recognition for their potential and assistance to get established in the art world. “We also like to have a large collection ranging from very low prices to premium artworks,” she adds.
Earlier exhibitions at the gallery were Unfettered (portraits of the journeys and spirit of Indian women) and Beyond the Curve (sculptures, paintings and drawings by artist Sanjiv Sankkpal).
The recent showcase covers a wide range of subjects and techniques that collectively evoke a sense of wonder and awe for the sublime natural world that we inhabit – but take so much for granted.
Mountains, forests, seas, and sun are life-giving and life-affirming and proof of that which was there before us and will be thereafter, according to George.
“Each of the artworks are reflections of the artist’s own spiritual, emotional, and philosophical connection to nature. Take a deep breath, pause for a minute, and immerse yourself in the natural world,” George signs off.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at the gallery.)