A 'Chronicle' in Black & White_ April 2025

 

Chronicle Art Exhibition-April 2025

When I visited the Lalit Kala Akademi on the 19^th of April 2025, my purpose was different.   I was to visit an Exhibition of watercolour works by artists of yesteryears, but I never expected to be treated to a display of some extraordinary drawings in graphite, wood cuts and prints aptly titled ‘Chronicle’, a group show by an amazingly talented bunch of art students (mentored by Wildlife artist T.Murugan) whose works were on display on the ground floor of the same gallery during the time of my visit.  As I caught a glimpse of the exhibits, I could not resist and so I made my entry.

You could hardly imagine my pleasant surprise coupled with my happiness as I looked around as the works beckoned me to have a closer look.   I decided to continue and I took my time going through each of these works, savouring the beauty, visual appeal, their eye for detail, mastery of human and animal anatomy, and their out-of-the-box thinking as I admired their excellent drafting skills manifest through the medium.  Most of the works were portrait studies and they were marvelous. Many of them were photo-realistic and some surreal.

As I went around savouring the works by these students, I was reminded of the hyper-realistic works of Dirk Dzimirsky, Cath Riley, Hector Gonzales, Paul Cadde and Paul Lung who took the humble graphite pencil to a great heights (‘Vera level’ in our Chennai baashai, LOL!). You would be surprised to know that some of the most beautiful drawings and sketches by great artists like Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Thomas Gainsborough, Adolph Menzel, to name a few, were in graphite.

Incidentally, Graphite was used as a medium of art in Central Europe in the 16^th Century, and the graphite pencil was based on the invention of Nicolas-Jacques Conté.

 If you are reading this write-up but have somehow missed the show, here’s the collection.  I have arranged the works artist-wise and by the alphabetical order of their names. Feel free to comment on what you think and I would like to know your favourites ones. Sit back and enjoy! Share this write-up with your friends so that these young artistes get duly recognised and celebrated!

 

Enbathamilan E - 3rd Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

Of his works displayed , I liked his Wood carve ( 3rd picture from the top) titled ' Vali ondrudhaan' meaning 'Pain is the same'. The pain in all the characters crying out in anguish have been brought out so nicely that it haunts you for a long time.

Jaya Rosi -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

Of her works displayed , I liked the drawing of the old man supported by his walking stick titled ' Aged hand.' The forlorn look on his face lost in thought, the head gear and the drapery has come out  very well.

 

Jegannathan G -  Rukmani Devi College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

 

The one I consider my favourite in Jegannathan's work is titled - 'Edhirkaalathin Edhiroli'  -Echo of the future -the third picture from the top.

Kavya K -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

My favourite out of Kavya's work is the one above with eagle flying, titled ' Dual -path conflict'.

Livi Andrew Godwin J - 4th Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

I would pick the wood carving titled ' Near confession' by Godwin( the third from the top) as my favourite and I consider it as one of the best in this Exhibition, in my view. The texture of the skin, the fur, the eyes, the grass , the trees in the backdrop, everything is fantastic.

Mohamed Afzal J -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

 

 

My favourite out of Afzal's work the the portrait titled ' Old man'. It is one of the best in this Exhibition, in my view.

 Mughil Nila -  3rd Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

I could find only the above portrait by Mughil Nila in this Exhibition, which of course has come out very nicely.

 Muhilan -  3rd Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

My favourite out of Muhilan's work is the one above titled ' Kadaisi aruvadai' -the last harvest depicting how slowly agriculture is fading into oblivion.

Mythili S K -   Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

 My favourite out of Mythili's work is the second one titled ' Seeking repose' depicting the struggles and sacrifices made by her parents, both tailors. It is one of the best in this Exhibition, in my view.

 Preethi S S  -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

I liked the second picture above titled ' Unleashed happiness' and that's my favourite of  Preethi's work.

 Sreekanth H  -  2nd Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

My favourite out of Sreekanth's works is the third picture above titled ' Old master's study'. The anatomy of the subject has been captured vividly.

Srimathi  -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

Of the works of Srimathi, I liked the seated portrait of an old lady titled ' Solitude in light' ( third picture from the top) and that's my favourite. The play of light and shadow as well as the detailing  is amazing.
 

Sudalairaj P - Govt.College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam.

 

Sudalairaj's works titled ' Old man reflection' ( the first one) and ' Village old man'( the second one) are beautiful and both are my favourites.

Vedha A K -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

The one above, where  Vedha carries a big dog so lovingly like a baby is my favourite. Another of my favourite,  is  the first one titled ' Flaunting death'.

 Vikram -  self- taught artist from Karaikkal

 

Of the works of Vikram, I liked the seated portrait of an old man titled '  Kaalathin niram' - The colour of Time ( fifth picture from the top) and that's my favourite. The play of light and shadow as well as the detailing  is photo-realistic.

Welwin Jackson A -  Govt. College of Architecture and Sculpture

 

 

Of the two, I liked the first one titled ' Per diem'.

Yogeshkumar S -  1st Year, Govt.College of Fine Arts, Chennai.

 

 

 

 

Of  Yogeshkumar's work,  the first one titled ' the Portrait'( of himself) and the third one titled 'Pillar of support' are my favourites. The effect of light on the subjects in both these are excellent.

In my humble view exhibitions like this should be held for a longer duration since apart from being a visual treat for the eyes and food for thought for the mind, they have a therapeutic value.

As I end this piece I am reminded of Michelangelo’s words:

‘The true work of art is but a shadow of divine perfection’.

In my view, that ‘divine perfection’ manifests itself in the beautiful works of these young artists. I am sure you would agree.

Signing off, wishing with all my heart the best of everything for these kids and that their art transports them to ' Vera level' in their lives and let this ' Chronicle' be a stepping stone for them to enter the chronicles of the future.