AV Ilango’s works exude the spirit of Indian-ness through the flick of a line. His latest exhibition ‘Rhythm’, this time in black and white, is on view at the Sublime Galleria in UB City. The exhibition is in some ways, a continuation of his previous themes, of bulls and rural folk figures. But he has also introduced new elements — crows, cats and Odissi dancers, depicting them in his typical ‘lyrical abstraction’.
Though the exhibition was a continuation of the style he has been working on for decades, this time he has worked through a different medium, of paper and charcoal, exploring the art of spontaneity.
“My works are based on rhythm and movement. At that same time, they are reflection of my indulgence in space, line and form. This time, I wanted to have a small set of drawings where the rendering is spontaneous. The work is not corrected, it is kept in its pure form.”
The beauty of his works is not just in the simple curve of the line that conveys the harmony, whether in the complex simplicity and wondrousness of nature’s perfect aesthetics or the intuitive sensuousness and allure of the ancient dance forms. It is also in the way these movements affect the space around them.
“In many ways, the line itself is abstracted in my works. When a line widens it becomes a form, and then it becomes a line again before disappearing. In some parts of my works, I have not even connected the form so the positive and negative spaces play a significant role. The negative space also has the tendency of the form. This interplay between the dual spaces creates a visual energy that is constantly changing. There is a visual play with the viewer, this gives character and personality to the work.”
Ilango believes that this gives a certain type of experience to the viewer, which is a reflection of the deep experience of the artist in creating his work.
“When I look at an empty piece of paper, the shape of the paper decides the form. Though I have an idea about the theme of the work, I let the composition take over on the spot. The universe, nature derives immense bliss in the process of creation. If you are an artist and you are in the creative mode, you get a fraction of that bliss and that is enough to keep you going. And so he is in a different level of existence when he is creating.”
The exhibition will be on view until February 3 at Sublime Galleria, 8th Floor, UB City. For details, contact 7022892634.
