Canvas for emerging artists

Emerging Palette is an exhibition that will showcase emerging artists as they graduate from their master in Fine Arts course. Hosted by Shrishti Art gallery in association with Goethe-Zentrum and Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad, the annual exhibition, now in its second year, selects around 20 students based on their work. This includes paintings, sculptures and art arrangements. The entries are from graduating students of the Sarojini Naidu College of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad (UoH) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU). Says Ramini Nambiar, proprietor of Shrishti, “We are collaborating to give these students an opportunity. Some of them are really talented and it’s sad when they don’t get the chance to showcase it.”  They approach colleges, inviting them to send entries for the two-week exhibition. The entries are then screened by a panel which includes Nambiar and representatives from foreign institutes. “We take in about 20 students and they can submit only two pieces of art or one big piece due to space constraint,” she says. These pieces are then appraised and priced. The prices are either quoted by the artist or fixed by the gallery, but it’s a figure that both agree on.  One of the paintings that will be exhibited is by Rajarshi Sengupta, a student of UoH. His entry is large canvas painting of a man on an elephant traversing through an interesting terrain of choices, which according to him, “is a collection of the surrounding elements that unite the public and the personal.” While his investment into the painting might have been around Rs 2,000-Rs 5,000, the painting is priced at around Rs 30,000. He explains, “Materials are found anywhere in the market. But the idea is what actually costs. The content of art is what dictates the price.” Nambiar says that the art works can range from anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 70,000.But pursuing a fine arts course is quite an expensive affair, especially if one isn’t a local of the city. A masters in Fine Arts would require a student to pay for one’s own materials. Most post graduate programmes only provide the workshop. Says Vinoda of JNAFAU, “I’ve been married five years now. I have to balance both home and college. That was the inspiration behind my work.” Vinoda’s art work is an arrangement of kitchen utensils and books.‘Emerging Palette’ opens on July 30 and will be on till August 14 at the Shrishti Art Gallery.