On December 11, Carpe Diem Art Gallery, in Majorda, previews the works of artist Vitesh Naik, titled ‘Mystical Body,’ a collection of paintings in mixed media on paper. Having recently been awarded the ‘Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant,’ he says, “The grant has given me the opportunity to realise my dream of holding a solo show.”
‘Mystical Body’ captures emotions and feelings, rather than the reality of the subject, in vivid colours, bold strokes, facial expressions and rhythm, with detailing textures that create movement and subjective understanding to the viewers. The artist focuses on capturing emotions and feelings, rather than what the subject actually looks like.
Most of his works are a blend of different thoughts derived from mythological, historical, contemporary and artistic sources which embody the physical, aesthetical and emotional aura of the work. In effect, it is a walk down many memory lanes, unravelling numerous forgotten and lost moments in time -- a portrait of civilization and a bygone culture when seen in an art historical perspective.
Vitesh is an itinerant chronicler of his land, bringing in a bit of chronicling, at times veiled in metaphoric events and people as they are. Growing up in the post-colonial Portuguese rule in South Goa, he has been influenced by the architecture and cultural practices of local culture, influenced in Christian settings.
Observing frequent festivals, and idiosyncrasies associated with social hierarchies since childhood, he captures emotions and feelings in exaggerated expressionism with non-naturalistic colours, for example, the figure’s skin painted blue instead of tan or brown. He has outstanding observational skills in the most mundane of situations, and is able to transfer them onto his canvas with versatility, depicting themes such as Goan taverns, markets, alcoholics, crowds chatting, gossip, religious processions, architecture, social scenarios and more.
“Everyone is in a hurry, and we have no time to look back and analyse where we’re heading or what our ultimate goal in life is,” he elucidates.
Vitesh completed his BFA from Goa College of Art in 1998. He has participated in over 400 group, and three solo shows in metro cities in India, winning awards at the state and national level.
WHERE: Carpe Diem Art & Learning Centre, Majorda, Goa
WHEN: December 11 to January 31, 2022
TIMINGS: 10 am to 7 pm
CONTACT INFO: 0832 - 2881035
