Aura Art show

‘If God had a face, what would it look like?’ sang Joan Osborne. We certainly don’t have the answer to that. But an exhibition of works from budding and established artists from across the country might provide a few colourful insights.

What sets it apart from other group shows? For starters, there’s the intensive selection process. Daljit Singh Sethi, art-collector and chairman of Aura Art, the company behind this show, picked 50 paintings from over 500 works. And then there’s the content. Despite the variety of genres, there’s a common thread through the essence of each painting — mystical, spiritual, with a social statement.

Eccentric artist Bose Krishnamachari’s take on religion and Charan Sharma’s paintings that pay obeisance to Lord Buddha held our Trendy Art Aficionado spellbound. She also loved Sanjay Kumar’s re-interpretation of the popular image of the Buddha, with the elongated neck and symbolic objects like lotus flowers placed around the tranquil figure. And Umesh Varma’s complex geometrical diagrams, which explore the metaphysical through science and symbolism, turning neo-Tantric art on its head.

Divine intervention indeed.

Aura Art Show at the Nehru Centre, AC Art Gallery and Circular Art Gallery, Worli, Mumbai, from Jan 29-Feb 4, 11am-8pm; Tel: 24964676/24963426; The paintings are not for sale.

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