City art exhibition steps into unconventional space
We’ve all seen art coming into public spaces like parks, metros, bus stops and airports. A new and less-explored space that art has stepped into in our city is at restaurants. While picking up your soup or waiting for your dim sum to be steamed at the counter, this ongoing brunch allows you to gaze at paintings capturing the vibrant landscapes of our country. How about treating your eyes to a canvas filled with vibrant underwater species as you decide on your dessert? Titled 'Diverse Landscapes', this art show is presenting 13 works of three artists — Martin OC, Aji Adoor and Anitha TK
— who explore the flora, fauna and varied landscapes across the lengths and breadths of the country.
Curated by artist Jitha Karthikeyan, the art show, taking place at Paprika Café in Courtyard by Marriott, aims to get people who don’t often step into galleries notice the artworks. “I strongly believe that art should come into public spaces and should not be restricted to galleries alone. Most often, unless a person has a basic understanding of art, he or she does not visit art galleries. Instead, when we bring art to public spaces like restaurants, it allows more people to engage with the art. We can raise more awareness on art and different perspectives by artists by taking art out of galleries, into commonly accessed spaces. We see artworks in metros and airports commonly — which is good to promote art,” asserts Jitha, whose art is usually centred around various socio-political themes.
Jitha’s art shows in the past were also held inside automobile showrooms, malls and offices in the city. “We’ve seen how Kochi Biennale has managed to involve local community with art. Places like shopping centres are great ways to attract people to learn to appreciate art.
I think we should have more public spaces giving space for art,” she stresses. The three artists were chosen in particular as their works showcase diversity of geography and culture in the country, Jitha tells us.
The experience, named ‘Art meets Food, will host Sunday brunches at the restaurant till December 8 with an extensive food spread — also highlighting cuisines from different regions of the country. Kerala-based artist Aji Adoor, whose paintings on display capture the mountains and their magnificence, says he also tries to paint in public locations. “It piques the curiosity of people around and makes them interested in learning. I always look for opportunities to take my art to public spaces so it can reach more people,” he adds.