Dharmendra Rathore uses the glitter of consumerism to question its very existence through a new body of work in paintings and sculptures
Art Pilgrim presents artist Dharmendra Rathore's solo exhibition of recent paintings and fibre glass sculptures titled Transit Lotus
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-- Art Pilgrim presents artist Dharmendra Rathore's solo exhibition of recent paintings and fibre glass sculptures titled Transit Lotus, highlighting the perils of a consumerist world, at Lalit Kala Akademi, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, from March 5- March 11, 2010. The exhibition would also be displayed at Art Pilgrim, A-689A, Sushant Lok, Gurgaon from March 12, 2010 to April 5, 2010
The show highlights, in collages of brightly coloured faces, flora, fauna and materials, the various issues that surround human existence globally - consumerism, homosexuality, human greed, wildlife conservation, search for spirituality et al.
Says Dharmendra Rathore: "I locate my works between the high materialism of today and unavoidable quest for spiritual enlightenment. After consuming all these, after forgetting real identities, after fighting for imaginary rights, where is one supposed to go? I am not a spiritual therapist nor do I act as an apologist for spiritual ways of life. But I have my concerns about contemporary life. I have my own take about human rights, gay issues, and environmental issues among others. I look at the beauty of our tradition while locating the same in the ongoing carnival of lights and forms. I don't know if I can give any answers to my viewers through my works but at least these will raise some questions," he says.
Writes curator Johny ML in the catalogue essay: "Dharmendra Rathore's latest works show how he is obsessed with the carnival-esque nature of the contemporary times. The glossiness and glitter of all the forms that enhance each and every outward presence of life these days come with a hidden violence. It is very difficult to be critical of these life enhancing forms, yet at the same time, one cannot be a champion for mindless consumption. As a thinking artist, Rathore's attempt is to identify the 'affect' of contemporary forms and place them within his visual discourse in order to shock and allure people with their directness. The familiarity of the images gets transformed and the familiar images become pointers to something strange and provoking. Rathore makes use of historical and religious references to strengthen his visual statement."
Dharmendra Rathore considerably moves away from his previous set of works where he mediated the aspects of spiritual aestheticism through the images of a meditating Buddha. While there is a new Buddha present in the new works too, Rathore takes the transforms the meditating hermit into a landscape of alluring contemporary images.
Rathore chooses stark images of glitter and gloss from the world of fashion and at the same time takes images from the Hindu mythology and some popular narrative images from the western and Indian historical traditions in art. These references are used for creating linkages between the spirituality of the past and the sheer materialism of the present.
This show also marks Rathore's debut in sculptural installations! Made in fibre glass, these five sculptures depict human-nature relationship - both audacious and beautiful!
