Vrindavan Solanki's Lines of Life opens at Archer Art Gallery

A well curated retrospective art show was started here yesterday to showcase the 60-year long journey of senior artist Vrindavan Solanki; who at 82 is a celebrated artist of the state and beyond; and is looked up to for inspiration by the younger artists in every sense of the word from opening the shows to critical advice.

The show comprising of scores of Solanki’s artworks from yesteryears as well as his recent creations opened at the Ahmedabad’s landmark Archer Art Gallery in the midst of a big turnout of art lovers, artists and friends of Solanki.

The show is featuring Solanki’s sketches, drawings and paintings of all sizes and all ages and multiple media in black and white as well as colours.

The show has a substantial section of sketches and drawings which are a representative selection of the subjects and themes covered in his long journey that started in early sixties. That’s when he also began to be noticed for his art in the competitions organized by the Lalit Kala Academi.

This journey that began with his love for painting from childhood days and small competitions led him to his art qualifications from the desi Mecca of art education, the MSU’s Art Faculty. He would later also go to the JJ School of Art in Mumbai.

The drawings on display include some interesting series on women – including a few nude studies; on men of eminence like the BBC’s India reporter the legendary Mark Tully and the even more legendary Editor-columnist Khushwant Singh; the ordinary but not-a-thing-of-the-past the tricycle rickshaws and their pullers; landscapes inspired by locations from Ahmedabad to the famous ones in the big apple, the city of New York where he also showed his art – just one of the 40 odd solo shows he could put up or carry around within and outside the country over these years of his active working, which continues with verve.

The interesting and fascinating cityscapes he has done include well known NY locations Iike the Empire State Building, the Central Park, the public library as well as the view of an intersection of 5th Avenue at the 42nd street.

By now well known for his signature style of painting human forms sans the facial features, inspired by people of the rural hinterland, such of Solanki’s works of various sizes in acrylics, oils and oil tempera are also displayed at this exhibition in good numbers, alongside the sketches and drawings. This reliance on omitting the facial features of his subjects often leaves people wondering if that limits communication in some sense, but Solanki has his reassuring answers.

In order to commemorate the “simplest moments of life immortalized in lines and hues” created by the artist, the Archer has a plan to publish a befitting art book featuring 500 of his drawings and sketches, informed Solanki in the midst of receiving his well deserved accolades and greetings.

Those here to pour their words of true appreciation for the artist at this opening reception were entertained with the usual by Relias, the hosts.

A must watch the show will be on till January 22, 2025.