The Observer’s Reflection

Can an artist’s rendering of a portrait go beyond its surface likeness and convey something deeper? Could a face become a comment on society, a world event, or say something about the inner world of the character depicted?

The Observer’s Reflection asks the spectator to examine the faces staring back at him. In Pallavi Singh’s works, features are clearly defined and neutral expressions seem to be the norm. Does such a treatment reveal the artist’s desire to challenge and question societal expectations, norms, and standardized conventions? Pallav Chander’s energetic brush strokes create images reminiscent of Rorschach inkblots. Can one sense that these frenetic stokes reflect the uncertainty of the individual’s interaction with the world? Susmita Chowdhury’s collages on the other hand, are focused less on the outside world and more on the inner ruminations of a person. And what happens when you strip the face of all its features – replacing it with a series of diagonal and horizontal strokes? Featureless faces in Aban Raza’s serigraphs move us to reflect on fleeting moments that relate to the essence of being. Complementing Raza’s work are the paintings of Avijit Dutta, where the faces of his protagonists are completely hidden. The artist allows us to only imagine what their facial features, expression and intentions could be.

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