His oeuvre captures rustic mineral memories

Jharkhand-based artist Ajay Chakradhar has borrowed hues of grey, black and brown from minerals like chrome, manganese and iron ore for his art exhibition to recreate his hometown's mining landscape.

The exhibition titled "Rejuvenation of Earthen Colours" that opened Monday is the door to the raw and rustic world of minerals that change colours with the changing landscape. The paintings showcase Chakradhar's childhood memories.

"I was fascinated with minerals since childhood. We grew up, knowing and seeing how beautiful these look. The memory has never faded," Chakradhar told IANS.

For the exhibition, he has depended heavily on the natural abundance of minerals and used them generously on the blank canvas, creating an array of abstract paintings that are open for interpretations.

"There is just a dash of colours on it to fill the gaps these minerals have left. Roughness of the surface gives a feel of touching minerals," he said.

The exhibition is on at the India International Centre Annex from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. till Aug 29.