Latest news with #VesavarArtGallery
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
In Pune, a Stanford alumnus who challenge familiar habits of looking, offers new ways of seeing
In a quiet corner of the Vesavar Art Gallery, windows are 'sheets of light,' penetrated by plants, framed by breeze, and built into a world where art and aesthetics merge. This vision of artist Amitabh Ashesh, shaped by his decade-long self-developed theory, 'Yufism', forms the heart of the gallery's exhibition, Yun Bhi – So Too. The exhibition will continue till August 12. Ashesh's works challenge the familiar habits of 'looking'. An IIT Bombay and Stanford University alumnus, the artist says that people often confuse his art with Cubism, an art movement of the early 20th-century, whose famous members were Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. 'Yufism is a new concept in nature. In Yufism, rain can be depicted in the form of cubes, a window can take the shape of the breeze flowing outside. Yufism is about rethinking how we see and translate reality,' said Ashesh. In his work, a window is not just a rectangle framed against a wall, but light and the plants outside. 'If light is what makes us see, why should we keep painting it like a flat background? I treat light itself as a subject of presence,' said the artist. Ashesh described his exhibits as 'proof-of-concept' pieces, prototypes for a new way of seeing. 'I believe these are just the blueprint for something no one has done before. It's still growing, but people and spectators are getting more and more interested in Yufism. It gives them a fresh lens,' he added. The inspiration for the paintings came from the artist's own surroundings, such as his home, the streets he walks, and, most intimately, his wife. 'I don't paint her as a figure in the usual sense. I see her through the Yufist lens on the canvases. Most of my work is from my life experiences,' he said. Many of the canvases hold a texture of words. Unlike most artists who stop at a simple name, Ashesh added a few lines to give each painting a meaningful shape, blending into the concept. This gave it a context to what people might just see and understand. One such piece was where rain transformed into floating cubes, their edges glowing. Another, windows twisting to form breeze, replacing the rigid pane with airy swirls, as if the glass itself dissolved into the wind outside. For Ashesh, Yufism is not just a style but a philosophy of observation. 'I'm not offering a finished product. I'm sharing a starting point, like discovering a new place. The possibilities are endless', he said. The artist hoped that, over time, Yufism will inspire others to explore its principles and build on them. 'It's not about me alone, It's about opening a door for others to walk through, and maybe they'll take it somewhere I can't even imagine,' he said.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
A vibrant, creative & emotional journey, Meraki, through world of abstract art
Pune: In a city softened by monsoon mist, an abstract art exhibition, titled Meraki, makes a perfectly timed entrance. The group exhibition, which opened at Vesavar Art Gallery in Camp, offers visitors a vibrant and emotional journey through the world of abstract art. Featuring the works of six contemporary artists — Yash Chawardol, Vikram Kulkarni, Shrikant Kadam, Santosh Shirsat, Rupesh Pawar, and Deepak Sonar —the show runs till July 6. The word Meraki is a Greek word that describes doing something with love, soul, and creativity. That sentiment flows through each artwork on display, which rely more on feelings and emotions than defined forms and recognisable images. The show celebrates colour, movement, and mood. Vikram Kulkarni, whose paintings explore subtle contrasts, said, "Through my abstract works, I have tried to offer a sensory experience inviting viewers to simply enjoy the colours and forms. Over time, I've become more attuned to painting delicate abstract compositions, where thin lines interact with thick ones or blend into subtle colour patches." Shrikant Kadam's work, though non-representational, draws from the natural world. "My work is not about replicating nature, but reflecting its essence through imagination," he said. "I strive to bring joy, divinity, and clarity into my canvases. Each painting is a journey of self-realisation and emotional connection, a silent dialogue between me and the viewer." While many of the works are abstract in form, Santosh Shirsat brings in one familiar element, the human face. But even here, identity is blurred. "The faces I depict are not my own nor that of a particular person or society. It is simply a human face that represents humanity, trying to express various emotions such as sadness, compassion, fear, anxiety, anger, and lust through its depiction," said Shirsat. For Rupesh Pawar, abstraction provides the freedom to explore deep emotional themes. "For me, art is a form of emotional expression. While realistic art can sometimes limit connection, abstraction offers the freedom to fully express what's inside," he said. Deepak Sonar's works blend memory and imagination. He describes his process as a personal offering. "My art is an offering to that in-between space, where memory meets landscape, and silence speaks," said Sonar. Yash Chawardol's large, colourful canvases hold their own within the group, contributing to the overall energy and richness of the show. At a time when much of the world is looking for clarity and meaning, Meraki reminds audiences that art doesn't always need to be understood; it simply needs to be felt. The show offers a space where viewers can slow down, look closely, and connect with their own inner responses.
