Jehangir Jani Show at Hyderabad

- Vishal Tondon

 

An art exhibition, titled ‘Jannis…A Relook’ will be displayed at Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, from the 7^th of September.

The show displays exquisite watercolours by the Mumbai-based senior artist Jehangir Jani. This is Jani’s second solo show with Kalakriti Art Gallery. The last time the artist showed at Kalakriti was in 2006, with his series of sculptures titled ‘Peers’. The current show marks an important turn in the two decades long career of the artist. Jani’s new paintings take a detour from his earlier artistic methods, yet does not abandon his concerns with myths and social norms.

Jani has consistently been fascinated with how myths are created. His art looks for inspiration in the lives of heroes, whether victorious or fallen. Jani comments that today’s political icons are tomorrow’s mythological heroes and anti-heroes. This aspect of myth construction was vividly expressed in many of Jani’s previous shows, the most significant of them being ‘Faerie Tales…A Relook’ (1998, Mumbai), ‘Peers’ (2006, Mumbai and Hyderabad) and ‘Great Expectations’ (2007, Mumbai).

What intrigues Jani about myths is the way in which large numbers of populations structure their lives around these myths, accepting them as absolute truths.

In his long career, Jani has been known for tackling sensitive subjects. But the quest for truth and knowledge has kept Jani going, undeterred. He explains, “I hope that future generations will be more comfortable and accepting of the alternate modes of existence that I have often depicted in my works. I am more curious about how my works will be seen by the future generations.”

Jani’s contribution to contemporary Indian sculpture and installation art is well acknowledged. We ask him about his engagement with a more delicate medium like watercolour. Jani replies, “I have been exploring the possibilities of watercolours for many years now. But I am also toying with the idea of using new media technology in the future. I don’t have the classical sensibility of being faithful to one medium. Like an ever flowing river, I hope technology will carry on inventing new materials, and I will have reason to be in a perpetual state of discovery.” 

 

The present series of paintings, on show at Kalakriti Art Gallery, explores a stimulating theme. These works expose the difficult relationship between passion and knowledge. The theme is best expressed in the painting ‘The Tree of Knowledge’. The bitten apples here represent eroticism and curiosity at the same time. The symbol of the bitten apple, of course, derives from the story of Adam and Eve. The message, apparently, is that one might have to risk tasting the forbidden fruit in order to acquire knowledge. These paintings also suggest that the path to knowledge is a difficult one. It is beset with risks and sacrifices, but the outcome is usually the greater common good of society.

 

Another theme this series of paintings explore is the idea of how, in society, knowledge is built and protected. Usually, the contribution of the laboring classes to the growth of knowledge is not acknowledged. In paintings like ‘Jannis’ Bag 6’, the artist depicts what would be the handbags of a labourer; sacs filled with coal. The idea behind these works is to remind us that there are no menial jobs in the world, as every worker remotely or directly is instrumental in human progress and knowledge.

The paintings in ‘Jannis…A Relook’ are rendered in delicate washes of watercolour and a dexterous use of charcoal drawing. The exhibition at Kalakriti is open to all. Do not miss this great opportunity to interact with the artist and his works.