Lack of colour is the hallmark of White on White, an exhibition, which artist Shobha Broota has curated and participated inSingularly spectacular

Manpriya Singh

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There are so many things even a mindless splash of colour can achieve; command attention at once, set the mood of the canvas, and affect the interpretation of the viewer. For as many things as a colour can achieve, it can’t make up for the absolute lack of it. “There is so much of beauty in just one colour, it’s all about whether you want to explore it, whether you are scared of it or whether you want to savour it,” says artist Shobha Broota of her latest endeavour, an exhibition, titled White On White, that she has not just curated but has also participated in.

The birth of the idea of presenting art works done in white on white first started in 2014, followed by the exhibition in Delhi in 2016. “I set the rules and encouraged the artists to look at white and try to translate it to their medium. It’s how much can you enjoy just one colour to explore its beauty,” adds Shobha, who is currently exploring a series just applying colour on the canvas and no form.

Organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra, the exhibition, comprising 100 plus works by 24 participating artists go beyond the normal, which is both abstract and realistic art works. As you visually scour the white wall depicting white on white canvases, the forms come to life as do the colour. For instance, a three-dimensional tree with buffaloes sitting beneath it. “It’s all white but one tends to see colour, green or yellow reserved for the tree as applicable to other objects on the canvas,” shares an artist.

What comes to play in the art works is the power of light and shade to bring variation and different shades of white itself. While artist Deepti Reu, a pass-out from Jiwaji University Gwalior, stuck to subtle shades of white, using nature as the theme. “White is a symbol of purity, peace and spirituality.” Artist Vidhi Jaiswal used white feathers, pearls, ropes and three dimensional forms to translate the idea of freedom, wisdom and dreams being interconnected onto canvas. Delhi-based artist Sarita Choudhary usually works with oils but for this series wherein she reserved jute ropes, nawars and sea shells to put forward the idea of energy in all its forms, starting with Lord Shiva. “Lately, I have been exploring the theme of energies and spirituality in my works, for the current series, it made me think of ways of creating art by using materials other than paints.”

On view till December 15 at Pracheen Kala Kendra Art Gallery—Sector 35, Chandigarh