In a world where colour and contours mean an lot, using the same to define something abstract is all the more challenging. Painting on the same lines, Hyderabad-based artist Ramakanth unveils the mundaness of the psycho-sociological environment we live in through an explosion of colours. Titled ‘The Loneliness of the long distance runner and other works’, the exhibition is inspired by a book of the same title authored by Alan Sillitoe. The book which focuses on a child breaking through a system of oppression for a single moment of freedom and individuality, is translated by Ramakanth into a series of 30 paintings. Colours splashed on to either canvas or paper, the paintings are a reflection of the artist’s perception of the metaphysical and sociological opression that we put ourselves through. Dealing in human tendencies and inter-human relationships, his paintings are a more than just a reflection, but an embodiment of the things that cost us the most.Each of his paintings have a poetically worded description of the art that take you through the idea behind the painting. However, this isn’t merely an description that sits innocently by the side of the painting. The words, in their own sense, create a painting for you to hear while the painting is there for you to see.Ramakanth takes us through a journey of retrospective tranquility that is disrupted by the stroke on his canvas. Giving phrases rather than titles to head-line his work, he draws his audience into a conversation with him, one you wouldn’t be even be aware of.The general technique that predominates Ramakanth’s work is an ambiguous haze that challenges you to look deeper into the painting and see it for what it really is. The blunt flat lines criss-cross over the canvas to define a very definite object - in most cases a person. His use of regular colours blurring into more vibrant and seductive hues add to the sense of what you see, isn’t really what can be seen.“People see what they want to see. Not just artistically speaking, but in real life, in relationships or in a situation, we see what we want to. One of my paintings, Admirable Blur is about that. Our attention to detail is so minimal, the real picture is almost a blur,” shares Ramakanth.His other paintings too have messages that try to reach out. ‘Talk to me’ is an intriguing painting with conflicting stroke that complement the canvas. Using mostly black and to strong red line that cross out the object in the painting, the artist paints a headless woman with a man’s head. “This was based on a story from a friend. There are so many times that simply stating things make the world of a difference. Yet we don’t. Conflicts of the personality are actually simple to resolve. If only people used their heads. Hence the headlessness in the painting,” he says.Talking about another of his artworks, Blinding White, he says, “In the painting, there actually isn’t much white. However, it appears that the painting is fading into white. We are in an age where there is so much information, the truth gets lost in the confusion.” The Hyderabad-based painter who has been pursuing his artistic sensibilities for over 20 years now, has a few fingers dipped in different jars. “I photograph quite avidly too. However art has become so technologically advanced, any complex idea can be created. There is so much of space for an artist now to re-invent and recreate himself within a particular artistic idea.” However, he is slightly acidic about the way art is conducted in the country.“I am slightly critical of exhibitions in India. Artists paint based on what their patrons want or that one attention-winning painting is recreated dime-to-a-dozen times? Where is the artist then? Art shouldn’t commercial. There should be nothing stopping you from experimenting and trying out different styles.” The exhibition is on at the Kalakriti Art gallery till November 16. All proceeds from the display are being donated to the Ananda Priya foundation, an organisation that supports and funds upcoming classical artistes.
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