Vikash Kalra’s artwork installation at Dhoomimal Gallery is a tribute to the art master Francis Newton Souza. The artworks are installed at the back of the gallery with the wooden sign of the Dhoomimal Gallery. These artworks are different from the others due to the artistic style and use of media. Comparing the installation of his artworks on Dhoomimal Gallery with his other artworks makes us realize that there are many differences in both of them. The first and foremost difference that we find is the media he used in the installation; he used solid wooden cutouts to create them. These wooden plies are cut into the shapes of the subjects with great precision. As they are waterproof woods, it was indeed a good work from Vikash to cut them off according to the right shapes of his subjects.
Creating according to the outside weather
Throughout his artistic career, we see a lot of experiments with different styles and mediums but in this specific art installation, he moved from his earlier medium of works to the new forms. He used the wooden cutouts painted with primer and waterproof colors (colors that are used in painting houses). He used waterproof colors, hard waterproof wooden cutouts to keep them safe from the weather. However, they are distinct in their color application too. The art is looking like polished oil on canvas while it is still different from his canvas works.
An innovative touch of medium and style
The glossy finish on the wooden cutouts and an amalgam of both painting and sculptures offer us a sense of three-dimensional illusions. The side borders on these cutouts are acting as a boosting force for the subjects in the drawings. These borders are connecting well with the lines in the paintings. While lines are almost extinct in some of these cutouts, the color compositions are exploring the subjects.
While the medium of work is new and quenching, his artistic style took a slight bend to another direction. It seems to be a conscious decision by the artist to show a little difference in his style to connect with the artworks of F.N. Souza. These artworks are a tribute to the master and the artistic styles show us the same.
In conclusion, installation is different from his other works and it is offering something experimental and new to the people and artist. At the same time, it is exploring the different mediums and connecting with the old-modern style of F.N. Souza. There could not be a more creative and simple structure that can be a tribute to a master like Souza. In less space and out-of-the-box designs, Vikash Kalra has created something unique that connects with the Gallery as well as the visitors.
Vikash Kalra is a self-taught artist and writer based in New Delhi whose work has been exhibited across India and is held in several private and corporate collections.