Feminine charms

Sometimes she is fierce, at some other times, calm. Her beauty is spellbinding. Her charm is everywhere, in nature and society. It captivates artistic sensibilities from varied angles. Femininity, its enticing attributes, appear in realistic and abstract forms on a good number of canvases at the exhibition of paintings by 27 artists at the museum auditorium here. ‘Jwalanam’ by John Punalal, depicts multicoloured flames emerging from a female figure. “She is beautiful and bears a flame inside her right from birth. It radiates from within her. That blaze may also convey her resurrection from all adversities,” says the artist. On another piece from the same artist, one can see a female figure in a green valley. If the joyous mood created by women during the festive seasons is the theme in one work, another conveys the innocence of village belles. Apart from a celebration of feminine perspectives, the paintings also look closer towards the possible perils hidden in her paths. Paul Sanandaraj has brought out in his work, the exploitation faced by women during journeys. The painting has four black hands approaching a female face, cautioning women to stay alert. The painting accompanies a collage of newspaper cuttings about attacks on women. Meanwhile, a work by Sithara has several women wearing a parda without face. Instead of the faces, we see a blank white space which can be interpreted as her mind concealed within the strictures of societal codes.   There are also other paintings that catch our interest such as an acrylic relief work by Aryanadu Rajendran. Another one done by artist V Shyamkumar depicts  a child flying across the night sky to grab the  crescent moon. He says that it is a  surrealistic interpretation of a childhood dream.  The invasion of technology into the world of colours is represented by digital painting.Other participants are: Ajitha Bhasi, Varghese Punalur, Chandran Manacaud, Ganesh Bhagavathi, Gayathri K G, Harihara Puthran, John K Samuel, Karakkamandapam Vijayakumar, Madhavan, Madhuprasadlal, Mohan Nedumangad, N C Manaveli, Ravi Puthoor, Sreedharan Nair, Sona Senthil, A S Thomas, Vikraman, Vinod D G, S K Vidyadharan, Vijayan Neyyattinkara and Wilson. A total of 67 paintings are on display. The exhibition organised by Lalithakala Sanghom was inaugurated by sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman. It will conclude on Thursday. Timing is from 10 am to 6.30 pm.