Gandhigiri on canvas

Two exhibitions in the capital are focusing on the father of the nation -- and his philosophy

Bapu is back. No, Rajkumar Hirani is not back with yet another flick. Rather it is some artists who are trying to bring back Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy. And in the process, they are also raising questions on why Bapu's ideals have not been followed post Independence.



Gandhiji ke teen bandar
Take Jaipur-based artist Gopal Swami Khetanchi for instance. His exhibition, Gandhi-giri, opens on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti. Khetanchi, who has done art direction for films like Mukaddar Ka Sikander and Kalia, has attempted to take a closer look at today's India after the death of Bapu.

"Bapu along with others has struggled so much to get us azadi. But we have done nothing to follow his path. Nothing much has changed in villages even now. This is taking a look at what all mistakes we have done," says the artist who will be displaying 20 paintings and one installation.

One of his works, titled Three Monkeys, is about corruption and how we turn a blind eye to it.
Another work is called Communal harmony, Please! "Gandhiji spent an entire lifetime trying to build ca feeling of harmony among the communities but nothing has changed. We don't even know what will happen over the Ayodhya issue," says the artist.

Khetanchi has also worked on the upcoming Commonwealth Games. the 6ftx15ft panel talks about how the money that has been wasted on the Games could have been better utilised on basic needs like shelter, water and food.

The brown bond
It is architect-turned-artist Vishal K Dar's debut art show, yet he has refused to put up the works for sale. The SAARC nations, with a focus on Gandhi, is what Dar's works are all about. His solo show, BROWNation,u00a0 is a series of prints, videos and installations where he makes Mahatma Gandhi the protagonist who questions, mocks and despairs the socio-political flux that the country finds itself in.

"The show is about our regional identity. Gandhi features as one of the most prominent brown-skinned persons," says Dar. The exhibition also talks about the history of the brown nations (the SAARC countries) points out that politicial boundaries do not matter, what matters is legacy.

His works borrow from popular iconography like currency notes, stamps etc to show how revered icons face a kind of "image assasination.

Gandhi-giri
Where: Art Positive, F-213/B, Old MB Road, Lado Sarai
when: October 1 to 31
Ring: 41602545
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm brownation
Where: Gallery Espace, 16, Community Centre, New Freinds Colony
on till: October 23
Ring: 26326267
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm