Perspectives: Hyderabad’s State Gallery of Art showcases works of 50 contemporary artists

Perspectives, an exhibition hosted by the State Gallery of Art, Hyderabad, showcases works of 50 contemporary artists. In its first edition, Perspectives — curated by Satya Gannoju from Amangal, Telangana, in collaboration with Appam Raghava Art Studio — brings together the creative visions of emerging and established artists exploring a shared theme.

The show, on view till July 21, highlights works of artists from across India who work with different mediums, including charcoal, pencil, acrylic, oil, textile, print, fiberglass, bronze and stone. These artworks explore themes of identity, culture, memory, nature, history, spirituality and society.

As the title suggests, the artworks reflect that there is no single way to interpret reality, thereby allowing viewers to engage with the creations using their own imagination and lived experiences.

Curator Satya Gannoju points out that the exhibition also embraces diversity of thought and emotion. He considers art a way of seeing, questioning and connecting with themes.

A few exhibits stand out:

The Hanuman mask

A Hanuman mask greets visitors near the entrance of the Chitramayee gallery. A three-dimensional mixed-media installation, the work is distinguished by its bold features, including the tilak, with the pop of colours evoking a dramatic effect.

Divine expression

Mythology-inspired themes, along with identity, take centre stage in Anjiya Naik’s work depicting Lord Shiva. The work is rendered in hues of blue and gold, embellished with devotional symbols such as the crescent moon, and also touches upon temple architecture.

Slice of rural life

Artist Bhairu Raghu Ram’s artworks portray rural life in Telangana with imagery of rural women, domestic animals and architecture. The attention to detail is reflected in his depiction of the homes, walls and tiled roofs. The women are portrayed in their milieu, sporting traditional armlets and anklets as they go about their daily grind, surrounded by roosters, trees and pottery.

The Cleopatra

Artist Priti Samyukta explores themes centred on women, identity and pets while experimenting with mediums that include scraps of denim fabric and appliqué on corduroy. Her artwork is an ode to the femininity of contemporary women.

Shiva-Parvati in bronze

Keshav Rao’s bronze sculpture narrates stories based on the Shiva Purana. He uses the patina technique, in which the metal reacts with nitric oxide to give a teal-blue colour. Later, with the help of the sanding method, the teal-blue colour is removed from a few places to reveal hints of golden hues within the artwork.

Light at: The Edge of Perception

The State Gallery of Art also hosted an exhibition titled Light At: The Edge of Perception over the weekend, featuring artworks by Angali Raghavender.

“Art exists in everything I see and feel,” said the artist. The exhibition focused on his recent works, particularly watercolour paintings through which he aims to strike a conversation with young viewers. 

Most of his paintings reflect his fascination with the distortion of light and its physical properties. He perceives light as a symbolic representation of what lies ahead. He uses watercolour as the primary medium since its fluidity allows him to witness the unpredictability and emotional resonance of light itself through art.

One can also witness hands and strands of threads, combined with animal figures, particularly giraffes, in his paintings. The inspiration for these conceptual elements come from his personal journey and recollections of the handloom weaving process that his family engaged in for generations. His paintings also portray how music plays an important part during the weaving process, helping the craftspeople breathe life into their creations.

(The writer is an intern with The Hindu)