Striking the right chord with art lovers

CHENNAI: When you read artist Bhagwan Chavan’s description of his paintings, it’s nothing but a neatly worded expression of how exactly you felt, looking at his works — “Combining the harmony of colours and depth achieved by the placement of transparent or opaque overtones by controlling the intensity with viscous colours, all dealt in swift, sweeping lines, spots and streaks.” Bhagwan ably connects with spectators, a forte that not many artists have been able to develop.A set of 51 paintings in different dimensions that adorn the walls of Focus Art Gallery at Alwarpet, just accentuate his definition. Titled, Ascription to Divine, they might look casual at first, but a little more attention will make you wonder at the unimaginable ways the artist has implemented colours. In the work done using water colours on paper, the background sets the mood of the painting and the unconstipated strokes of hues give them depth and life. The black frames add to their elegant look.While the brighter hues clear-cut all 32 water colour-on-paper paintings, it’s the subtle colours that give the dry pastels a contradictory feel. All six of the latter look sober with its moody sweeps that are cut through by opposing strokes. The visible textures make them look extraordinary. The other 13 paintings, oil on canvas, also bear exquisite appearance. The current series of paintings are a dedication to his mentor, Ashok Thitae, and friend, Mitran Devanesan.Bhagwan worked on all these paintings between 2006 and 2011. The artist is a native of Chinkhill and graduated from Sir JJ School of Art in 1981. He has participated in many group exhibitions and held more than eight individual shows across the country. He has travelled across the world and has won a number of honours including being a jury member for Lokmanya Balagangadhar Tilak’s All India Exhibition that happened in Pune in 2006. The artist lives in Cholamandal Artists’ Village. The exhibition, which has been curated by Chennai-based Nirupama Santhosh, was inaugrated by Andrew Simkin, Counsel General of USA Chennai. The exhibition at Focus Art Gallery, Alwarpet, is on till July 17. For details, call 24986611.