Toys are among a person’s earliest memories of fun and as objects, they embody our fantasies, values, obsessions and fears. Priyendra Shukla’s latest art exhibit Toy Shop captures this very sentiment and will have you reminiscing about your childhood and the simple desires we have as children. From 29 March to 8 April 2013, the Shridharani Art Gallery in New Delhi brings together the works of Priyendra Shukla and gives you a visual treat of colors and forms that remind us of our transition between childhood and adulthood using playful imagery.
With all exhibitions, Shukla looks to tell a story. This particular collection of paintings is inspired by the artist’s four year old daughter and her excitement at a toy store. Shukla shares, ‘When I look at her childish cravings for a new toy and think in amusement how she can be so fascinated by something so useless, I wonder aren’t our lives a never ending successions of wanting this or that…and then quickly coming to terms with our gain or sulking when we do not get our toy?’ Shukla equates our everyday lives to a toy store in his paintings. ‘For one the desire may be the whole world, for someone, a source of amusement.’
Intrigued by colours, textures, patterns and even the nostalgic nature of discarded toys, Shukla reinterprets the meanings of these toys as a mode of self- expression and combines them in thought provoking ways. ‘Toys, are age-old, and represent innocence and play. They can be basic or very complex and can trigger deep psychological memories but also imagination,’ opines Shukla. The reference in Shukla’s work comes across as humorous but also puts you on a path of revelation about the nature of one’s desires.
Keep a look out for paintings ‘Makeover’ and ‘Limousine’ as they feature in some of Shukla’s favourite works and the humour element is well stated in these pieces. According to him, ‘The closest I can get to express what my words cannot express and to define what my thoughts cannot define, is to try and create a visual replica of my perception, on the rectangular arena of a canvas. On this taut, grainy playground, my subconscious meets the viscous movement of paint, talks to it intimately and together they bring out and concretize the colours of my being.’
Shukla has studied Fine Art Painting as his area of interest in his Bachelor’s degree at the Delhi College of Art. His other area of specialization includes etching graphic printing.
He has successfully participated in a number of group shows. Some of these include, United Art Fair 2012, Concern India Foundation ‘Art for Concern’, and ‘A Gift of Solitude’ at the IHC Visual Art Gallery.
Among his diverse portfolio of work, Shukla has successfully collaborated with famous fashion designer Satya Paul and painted collection of sarees and murals.
DETAIL
Date: 29th March – 8th April
Time: 11am- 8pm
Venue: Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam
With all exhibitions, Shukla looks to tell a story. This particular collection of paintings is inspired by the artist’s four year old daughter and her excitement at a toy store. Shukla shares, ‘When I look at her childish cravings for a new toy and think in amusement how she can be so fascinated by something so useless, I wonder aren’t our lives a never ending successions of wanting this or that…and then quickly coming to terms with our gain or sulking when we do not get our toy?’ Shukla equates our everyday lives to a toy store in his paintings. ‘For one the desire may be the whole world, for someone, a source of amusement.’
Intrigued by colours, textures, patterns and even the nostalgic nature of discarded toys, Shukla reinterprets the meanings of these toys as a mode of self- expression and combines them in thought provoking ways. ‘Toys, are age-old, and represent innocence and play. They can be basic or very complex and can trigger deep psychological memories but also imagination,’ opines Shukla. The reference in Shukla’s work comes across as humorous but also puts you on a path of revelation about the nature of one’s desires.
Keep a look out for paintings ‘Makeover’ and ‘Limousine’ as they feature in some of Shukla’s favourite works and the humour element is well stated in these pieces. According to him, ‘The closest I can get to express what my words cannot express and to define what my thoughts cannot define, is to try and create a visual replica of my perception, on the rectangular arena of a canvas. On this taut, grainy playground, my subconscious meets the viscous movement of paint, talks to it intimately and together they bring out and concretize the colours of my being.’
Shukla has studied Fine Art Painting as his area of interest in his Bachelor’s degree at the Delhi College of Art. His other area of specialization includes etching graphic printing.
He has successfully participated in a number of group shows. Some of these include, United Art Fair 2012, Concern India Foundation ‘Art for Concern’, and ‘A Gift of Solitude’ at the IHC Visual Art Gallery.
Among his diverse portfolio of work, Shukla has successfully collaborated with famous fashion designer Satya Paul and painted collection of sarees and murals.
DETAIL
Date: 29th March – 8th April
Time: 11am- 8pm
Venue: Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam