This artist’s ‘eyes’ unveil marred realities
People try to mask their pain with make up, fancy clothes or a smile, but the eyes — they never lie. Visual artist Jyotiprakash Sethy’s belief that eyes always reveal the truth is showcased at his ongoing art exhibition.
Titled, Marred Reality, the exhibition by Sethy is his first attempt at a solo show and what one notices about his work is that most pieces are a study on women’s eyes. Made with mixed media, mostly a combination of water colours, newspapers and charcoal, these artworks are an attempt to bring forth the plight of women who are suffering around the world. “Every day, a woman is subjected to violence. They are harassed, denied fundamental rights, and oppression weighs heavy on them. They’re told to stay silent, mask their fears and hurt. But, their eyes will always tell you a different story. That is why my artworks concentrate only on the eyes of women and nothing more,” says Sethy.
Visitors at Sethy’s exhibition will also notice a series of paintings that showcase the lives of children in Syria. Sethy explains that all his works on Syria draw reference from an Australian photographer’s images from the Syrian war.
The artist’s work is in monochromatic hues with only hints of colour, ask him why he chose such a palette and he explains, “Black is a colour I have always loved working with. When all colours come together, Black is formed, and that helps me put together an image that is much deeper in meaning than it appears to be.” While Sethy isn’t much of a talker, he explains his works vividly, something he promises to do for anyone who shows genuine interest in his art.