Date:25/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/25/stories/2007122552080200.htm

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New Delhi

From Russia with love….

Staff Reporter

Country’s landscapes to feature in art exhibition

Artist visited Russia to imbibe its cultural riches
Koushal paints on an obsessive impulse: art critic

A COUNTRY ON CANVAS: One of artist Koushal Choudhry’s paintings to be displayed at Delhi’s Canvas Art Gallery soon.

NEW DELHI: Showcasing the culture and traditions of Russia is a fortnight-long painting exhibition opening at Canvas Art Gallery in Nehru Place here beginning this Thursday.

Titled “From Russia With Love”, artist Koushal Choudhry’s exhibition features the picturesque landscape of Russia, its people, as well as its rich and varied flora and fauna. The exhibition had its first run at the Open Palm Court of India Habitat Centre here from December 19 to 24.

The artist visited Russia not just as a tourist but as one who wanted to imbibe the cultural riches of the vast land.

Speaking about his latest works, Koushal says: “I am sincerely grateful to the people who trusted, guided and supported me and infused life into my exhibition. One of them was Evgenia Stolyarova in Moscow. I am thankful to her for showing me a different world.”

According to art critic Keshav Malik, Koushal paints on an obsessive impulse. “His Palekh Golden Oak, Spring, Rainy Elnomir and Metro Autumn are such select vintages with a blend of the flora of Russia and the key concept of India. The result is gratifying.”

Keshav says paintings require an intellectual appreciation of their qualities rather than a direct sensuous reaction. “The best of the artist’s offering entails a delicate responsiveness — mere learning is not enough. If we still want a possible access to the springs of artistic creation, it is to the veins of an artist’s life-tree that we must turn to,” he adds.

Born on January 15, 1968, Koushal did his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Bangalore University. He has participated in several solo shows including one at Government House of the Russian Federation in Moscow, Gostiniy Dvor in Moscow, Bharat Nivas in Tamil Nadu, Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry and the State Gallery of Fine Art in Hyderabad.

In group shows, Koushal has participated in two exhibitions titled “Feminity” and “Buddhism” at Canvas Art Gallery here earlier this year, Jasubhai Art Gallery in Mumbai in 2003 and Ravindra Bhavan here in 2001 and 2002.