A five-day painting exhibition by city-based artist Hindol Brahmbhatt, who has drawn inspiration from Raja Ravi Varma, has been organised at Hutheesing Visual Art Centre here to mark the legendary painter’s 111th death anniversary on October 2. The exhibition ‘Voice of Silence’, which kicked off on Monday, has been curated by Giriraj Kadia.

Raja Ravi Varma arts

Drawing inspiration from Varma’s paintings of Indian gods and goddesses, Brahmbhatt has recreated them on wood, adding a dimension to them. He has worked on seasoned wood and used shellac and enamel paint.

Brahmbhatt said his philosophy to work to with the popular culture and that of Varma’s is the same. “He wanted every household to have a piece of his art and so do I,” said Brahmbhatt who has a controlled use of colours in his work unlike Varma who used them very generously.

Kadia said everyone celebrates Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, but not everyone remembers the artist who gave us the pictures of gods and goddesses. “Irrespective of our social and economic class, every household has one fragment of the work of Raja Ravi Varma, in form of a sculpture or a simple printed picture,” said Kadia adding he curated the exhibition as it evoked the same feeling as the film, Rangrasiya, made on the life of the prolific painter.

Visitor Milan Jani found the works unique and exceptional. “It creates a sense of spiritual and religious connect.”

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