Artworks by ten artists at the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi reveal their world view in full measure

In the words of French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, art is a way of recognising oneself. Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi (CLKA) became the tool for 10 artists to know themselves better; they even bagged a trip abroad and a scholarship.

Their artworks are on display at the exhibition of CLKA scholarship winners, 2018-2020. While for 2018-19, the artists got scholarship, for 2019-20 they got a chance to visit museums in Paris, Rome, Venice, and also witness the prestigious Vienna Biennale.

“This was a huge exposure,” chimes in Rashmita Kanojia, whose painting and print-making pieces are on display. Her Who Am I? is a mix-media collage that questions identity. “Why must long hair always be related to women; mine is a representative of an individualistic identity,” she says. Her other works denote lovers and emotions. Anil Sandhu’s sculptures are made around the theme of annihilation. He uses mix media to express himself. Asuvidha Ke Liye Khed Hai is his terracotta installation right at the entry point.

An architect, Jeevan Jyot, who was part of the Vienna trip, captures architecture in his photographs —Piazza San Marco, Venice, Tower of Shadows, Chandigarh, Eifel Tower, Paris and Key Monastery, Spiti, are captured in his frames artistically.

Bharti Sharma goes in for mix media, with rather raw look and feel. Impermanence of human body is her theme, represented through three works. Manu Priy Gautam uses board cut, etching and aquatint. Away from his family, his love for peers through his work—one a portrait of his father, another of his sister. He also has a portrait of Le Corbusier on display.

Other works include those by Kuldeep, Kulwinder Singh, Srishti, Komal Mathur and Vijay Kumar.

“Scholarships were a norm for more than a decade, we want to give exposure to artistes. Just like 2019-2020, we have plans to offer new opportunities like a trip to prestigious museums around the world in the coming times,” says Bheem Malhotra, chairman, CLKA.

The exhibition is on at Government Museum and Art Gallery-10, till February 23, 2022. — Mona