24 November 2024/

PRESENCE OF ABSENCE IN MAN the elephant in the room

The Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi is set to host a captivating group exhibition titled “Presence of Absence in Man the elephant in the room” from 1 December 2024 to 10 December 2024.

Curated by the talented Anuradha Nalapat and Anoop Kamath, this exhibition promises to showcase the works of eminent artists, exploring profound themes through their unique perspectives.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by the esteemed senior visual artist, Shri. N.N Rimzon, on 1 December 2024 at 6:00 PM. The event will feature Shri. M. Anil Kumar, Mayor of Kochi Municipal Corporation, as the Chief Guest.

Shri. Balamuralikrishnan, Secretary of Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, will deliver the welcome address, and the event will be presided over by Shri. Murali Cheeroth, Chairperson of Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.

Anuradha Nalapat, an eminent artist and poet, beautifully captures the essence of the group show with her poetic note. She describes her living room as a place where she watches and hears the rain-drenched earth, accompanied by the sounds of crickets, birds and frogs.

“And no, there is no presence of absence here,

ecstatic is the absence of a longing,

of the short breath of discontent,

the tall hooded presence of doubt.

But Sushhh…absence has ears”

— this imagery sets the tone for the exhibition, which features works by many renowned artists.

The exhibition will feature the remarkable works of eminent artists, including Pushkin EH with his acrylic on canvas pieces, Anuradha Nalapat’s stunning acrylic paintings, Aji Adoor’s captivating oil on canvas creations and K. Sudheesh’s expressive charcoal on paper artworks.

The Group Show will also feature the exceptional works of Sujith S N with his tempera on paper, Asma Menon’s mixed media on canvas in black and white, and Nandakumar’s intricate bronze sculptures. Thejo will present mixed media and acrylic on canvas, while Hariharan S. will showcase two archival pigment prints. Leenaraj R. and T. R. Udayakumar will display their acrylic on canvas pieces.

The show will also include works by Suja Suryanarayanan (Ink wash on paper), K. T. Mathai, Rathidevi Panicker, Ishrat Humairah, Bharat Thakur (Oil on canvas), Ritu Kamath (Mixed media on canvas), Ravi mandlik (oil on canvas), Shobha Menon (mixed media on canvas/ installation), Priti Vadakkath -collaboration with poets Neerada Saseendran and Sherin Mary Zacharia (Installation), Durgadas AT , Vivek vilasini ( Photograph), Balamurali Krishnan (acrylic on canvas), Alex Chandy, Gita Hudson (oil on Canvas), Akhilesh (oil on canvas), Kavitha Balakrishnan (Video poem), Harmandeep Keerthi, Aji V N and Murali Cheeroth.

This Group Show is a fundraising event dedicated to the welfare of displaced beings. This diverse collection promises to be a celebration of artistic talent and a heartfelt effort to support those in need.

The show, “PRESENCE OF ABSENCE IN MAN the Elephant in the room,” promises to be a profound exploration of human emotions and experiences, inviting viewers to reflect on the presence and absence in their own lives.

The event will also feature a felicitation by Smt. Sreelatha Varma, a distinguished poet and author; Sri. Bonny Thomas, a founder member of KBF and Shri Pushkin E. H, an eminent visual artist and poet.