When an artist shuns the easel and canvas for materials found in a dustbin, he is written off. But not Indrapramit Roy. When he gave up the canvas for cardboard, he found himself written about. Back in Mumbai, after a year and a half, he is still deprecative about his success. In fact, this quality of self-mockery is the reason behind Roy's title for his exhibition, In Pursuit of the Trivial. A sentiment which makes his medium more apt because of its trashy association."I didn't like the spring in a canvas and the neat edges," says Roy. Instead, after a long search for the perfect medium, Roy chanced upon cardboard. With its many rents and channels, this thick paper lent itself perfectly to the subject of his paintings -- impermanence and transience, because cardboard's final resting place is usually a dust bin. Today, the material is immediately associated with Roy and his work attracts the eye for both the subject and the material they are painted on.
Compared to last year, Roy's work has moreempty spaces. But some metaphors, like feet with wheels, find their way in to the current paintings as well. This time though, a rolling ball -- what better symbol for movement and change -- takes centre stage from last year's house-on-wheels. While bigger works are at Gallery Seven, Prithvi is housing some 22 smaller format paintings which are gouache on paper. However, this exhibition doesn't quite meet the powerful and innovative imagery that Roy created last year. His present collection, mostly, seems a watered-down version of what he has done before. But the exhibition is worth a dekko if only for the way Royhandles cardboard.
At Gallery Seven, Cuffe Parade. Till Dec 30. Time: 11.00 am to 7.00 pm.At Prithvi, Juhu. Till Jan 8. Time: 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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