Folk-inspired acrylic paintings come to life in this AR-enabled display of works by Karnataka-based artist Manjunath Wali
As the leaves of the coconut tree move slowly, the birds fly away. Surrounding them are mud houses – in bright shades of blue, red, peach and green – that are glued to each other. The structures sit on what appears to be a river: ripples of water as the moon climbs higher and higher, against the passing stars. A still, rather abstract, folk-inspired acrylic work thus comes to life when one holds a screen against it.
At T Nagar’s quirky Venba gallery, 10 such works by Karnataka-based artist Manjunatha Vali are set to motion in an exhibition called Folk Forensics using Augmented Reality (AR).
Vali’s first solo show in Chennai, the exhibit showcases 28 of her works, done in mediums such as charcoal, pen, pencil and acrylic. While 11 of them are AR-enabled (presented by the design team at Wenba), the rest give a glimpse of Wali’s affinity for folk motifs and how he combines them with contemporary elements.
living childhood
Crowded with meaning, and with recurring images of village landscapes, the canvases are meant to introduce urban viewers to the simple joys of the countryside. “I am interested in the folk style of architecture, and inspired by historical monuments. I thought I could mix them into the contemporary landscape as well,” says Manjunath, who spent his childhood at Huvina Hipparagi in Karnataka’s Bijapur district.
His own village, especially when decorated with “combinations of colors splattered on the walls” during festivals, serves as a museum at times. The series on display, which screams joy and nostalgia, is largely inspired by familiar landscapes and forgotten scenes from childhood.
In fact, the artist says he was confused when he saw an AR version of his work. “My birds weren’t flying on the canvas, but they were flying on the screen!” He laughs. These versions can be viewed on any device through an app called Artivive.
His equally complex, black-and-white works stand in contrast to this interactive series. They are his favourites. “Black and white work is very challenging. Especially when you have to show the dimensions in a single tone. It’s a risky job!” He says.
Using charcoal, pen and pencil, Manjunatha takes a single object and creates a world within it. In the piece titled Live Together, the artist zooms in on the façade of a lorry on which he paints pieces of houses, palaces, doors and windows, roofs and clay tiles, and connects them to a serene, mountainous landscape .
There are many birds on top of the lorry. For Manjunath, birds are a metaphor for happiness and freedom – and therefore, most of his canvases feature one or two birds. “Earlier, I used to experiment with different styles to reach the figure of a bird. Lately, my birds have also been inspired by folk art,” he adds.
Unwind, another acrylic work in varying shades of grey, shows a gramophone that incorporates similar architectural and natural elements – birds appear there too, as the gramophone is a metaphor for a freeing and therapeutic experience.
Manjunath always goes back to “Once Upon a Time” in his works. “I represent that time. I want future generations to learn more about the village’s architecture and traditional objects.” He has been working on the subject since 2011 and plans to further fashion fiber and bronze sculptures while sticking to the same concept.
The folk forensics can be seen till 31st August at Vennaba Gallery, T Nagar.
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