Whirlpool of Ecstasy : Review of Ashvin Mehta's 'Gifts of Solitude'

“I was all alone on the beach looking for pictures, when suddenly it happened. As dimensions of time and space vanished, I slowly dissolved in the fathomless blue. Something confined within the narrow shell of my mind and body was hurled a whirlpool of ecstasy. When I returned to the reality of the sea, and sand and driftwood logs, it took some time to find my bearings. The invisible bonds of affinity with everything around me made my entry stable and my movements effortless. I don’t remember when I finished my photography session and returned home.”

Ashvin Mehta

I remember the first time when I was going through Ashvin Mehta’s “Gifts of solitude” a year back, how I was intrigued with silent images and simplicity.

After exhibiting Kishor Parekh’s Bangladesh – a Brutal birth, Satya Art Gallery is all back with another marvel by exhibiting Ashvin Mehta’s iconic abstract photographs. His Gifts of Solitude.

Often referred as Ansel Adams of India, His approach towards his subjects makes him more of an artist, his extent of understanding and power of expression has made me an undismayed admirer. His each frame is environment conscious and has strong sense of space; these images are work of Art. They do not reflect or symbolise isolation, if one relates to Ashvin’s philosophy and vision – it gives whole new meaning.

His simple subjects like rocks and mountains becomes sculpture like, waves returning to the sea, clouds mingling with mountains are beautifully structured with sense of abstraction.

There is nothing pretentious in his photographs, for him these images are way of celebrating life, like his philosophy, his works have sense of simplicity, even notion of drama is conveyed silently with simplicity.

His philosophy does not vary with different projects, it is expressed cognately with different subjects, and “Coasts of India”and“Bicycle – A celebration” are brilliant examples of it.

“All around I saw the many hued bicycles in different sizes – old and new, tied to anything rising straight from the ground – a lamp-post, a tree or the ramp of a staircase supported on tiny pillars – with every conceivable chain and lock. Most of them were let loose on the streets like stray cattle in a typical Indian town. Slowly, this simple contraption for commuting, a sort of extension of human legs, was transformed for me into a mystical object of art.” Notes Ashvin in the introduction of his book – “Bicycle – A Celebration”

Ashvin’s high contrasts, black and white abstract images, along with Rabindranath Tagore’s magical poetries are evocative. These photographs reflect his deep contemplation.

“Gifts of Solitude” is a gift of Navjeevan Trust to the town for whole month, it is a must visit exhibition!! The exhibition will continue till 30^th of September, its open for all and its timings are 12 pm to 9 pm (except mondays)

Highly Recommended by CY.

Original Photographs : Late Shri Ashvin Mehta

Exhibition Photographs : Ravi Panchal