Karnataka - Bangalore

Nine planets in acrylics

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: This artist goes astral; his next show will be paintings on planets as they are perceived in the study of Indian astrology.

The constellations of the Zodiac will feature in the exhibition to be held next month at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's E. Hanumantha Rao Art Gallery by H.N. Suresh. His previous exhibition was "Nakshatra Mandala", on a similar theme.

The nine-plus-one canvases to be exhibited are painted with acrylics and complement his earlier works, says the artist.

If critics and art lovers make comparisons it will be because of the similarity of themes. But they were painted almost two years apart.

The configuration earlier drew heavily on figuratives and now the planets are entirely symbolic in their conceptualisation.

Almost every work is a juxtaposition of an array of symbols. Objects resembling pebbles or marbles and granite add to the imagery.

The colours used correspond to the images of the planets, says the artist.

If colours like red (for Mars), white (for Moon) and green (for Mercury) are used as symbols to represent the planets, a distinct spatial division shows the twins, Rahu and Ketu.

The only planet where a dominant satellite distinguishes the delineation is Saturn, while the influential Guru (Jupiter) and Sukra (Venus) almost grow out of the frames.

Explaining the departure from his earlier works, Mr. Suresh says, "The line in the earlier works was almost diffused but here it plays a prominent role in defining the surface effect. The bright hues have given place to more sombre colours. Even the brown and red used for Mars and Sun are not as luminous as in the earlier paintings.''

The six-day exhibition is being sponsored by the M.P. Birla Foundation and will be inaugurated on October 10 by the Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy.

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