Upcoming art show to pay tribute to iconic Indian legends

Delhi-based artist Rita Jhunjhunwala will pay tribute to extraordinary men and women from a spectrum of society, including arts and science, politics and business, religion and and spirituality through her upcoming exhibition.

Titled "Immortals" the solo art-show will be held at the Visual Arts Gallery of the India Habitat Centre here from October 1 to October 5. The exhibition includes 35 large works in acrylic and charcoal on paper, acrylic and mixed media on canvas and sculptural installations in wood.

Jhunjhunwala places these portraits against backgrounds that are executed in her trademark brush strokes, subtle and evocative of emotions, incidents and symbols associated with each person. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi's portrait, incidentally also her first in this series, recreates the time of the Salt March, while another candid work captures the Mahatma's affectionate relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's portrait is replete with symbols of strength, Subhash Chandra Bose's portrait lights up with the colours of nationalism and J.R.D. Tata's portrait is easily recognisable as that of a man of industry. Tagore gazes calmly into a cascade of books, while Mother Teresa is all about compassion and harmony. Among other giants featured in the exhibition are M.F. Husain, Kishori Amonkar, Swami Vivekananda, C.V. Raman, Ramkrishna Paramhans, Amrita Shergil and A.P.J Abdul Kalam, among others.

"This exhibition of portraits of some extraordinary people, who are no more with us, is my humble way of paying tribute to them. While greatness is certainly no exclusive preserve of our civilisation -- as Rabindranath Tagore thought, one should 'glory in the light of the lamp lit anywhere' -- I have chosen to portray only Indians for the time being. For me, its recovery of faith in humanity at a time when our moral, spiritual, cultural and social values are rapidly shrinking," said Jhunjhunwala. This is her 18th solo exhibition.

--IANS

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