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The series of Vrushabha 1 by guntur based artist Rayana Giridhar Gowd showcases 79 drawings and paintings with the form of the bull as an essential aspect. “Form is an element of art. At its most basic, a form is a three-dimensional geometrical figure as opposed to a shape, which is two-dimensional, or flat. In a broader sense, “form, in art, means the whole of a piece's visible elements and the way those elements are united. In this context, form allows us, as viewers, to mentally capture the work and understand it.” Finally, form refers to the visible elements of a piece, independent of their meaning. For example, when viewing Giridhar Gowd's creation of Vrishabha 1, the formal elements therein are: color, dimension, lines, mass, shape, etc., while the feelings of mystery and intrigue the piece bring to mind are familiar products of the viewer's imagination.
To understand the fierceness, strength and the painful tasks, the bulls carry out; it was a necessary exercise for the artist to sketch the spectacular bulls on the spot during the Bull power competition held in March 8th 2007 for five days of rigorous activities carried out by the bulls. Several drawings were made during the event that took place in Atkuru in Krishna District.
The artist's engagement from morning to 11pm in the night also informs of a struggle to grasp the matter of his observation, following the forms with spontaneous effects and render it sincerely. The dark high hump the short structure of the body neck and legs were internalized in quick coordination of the strokes and observation. The bull with its specific characteristic features of black spots on the body, hump, nose, eyes, ears, knees, testicles and a distinct black tail were expressed with dry pastel, pencil, charcoals and water colour.
It is apt to mention that Giridhar Gowd is able to treat various genres in art practice as a means for expressing different notions in different times.
Each series created by the artist recalls the use of certain set of skill and training to be made use of for specific expressions, in this respect each series becomes an experience for the artist as he explores the subject through an approach of research and fashioning its expression. The viewer too experiences a surfeit of visual impacts each time.
The fervor to see the Bulls ended up as a sketched documentation of the bulls their behavior, loveliness, strength and usefulness. The artist informs of an internal Analysis of the form through a process of observation of the form and judgment of the volume, this is further carried out by superimposition of the transitory moment on an inert surface. The decisive outcome of this method is the commitment of the form to memory, for purposeful expressions.
Thus the painting of Krishna fighting the bulls inspired by the 10th episode of Mahabhagvatam, was expressed with such indemnity. Although the series culminates in a mythological narrative the exploration of the artist in Vrushabha 1, has been devoid of any preconceived milieu. At this point for the artist and his viewers it is form for the sake of form itself. — Koeli Mukherjee, Curator & Art Historian
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