Art exhibitions at Woodstock are common. It is an opportunity for many young artists that reside in our community to express their talents. Although some may be self-explanatory, most abstracts hide a deeper meaning than what meets the eye under the many layers of paint that create them. The recent art exhibition that was located right outside the HS office has often gone unnoticed for a while now.
Initially, the theme started off with the idea for the Advanced Art and Interdisciplinary Art students to choose between creating a landscape/seascape or portraits. Its concept was to portray the “similarity between mountain waves and ocean waves,” said Mr. Nanda Kumar, HS art teacher. However, most artists whose artworks are displayed on that wall have a story to tell of their own, relating to their art pieces.
Art pieces comes in “different sizes”, created through “different processes” and that therefore reflects that “every art piece is different,” said Mr. Kumar. It “starts with an observation” and then it is drawn by the artist through how it is reflected in their eyes and imagination. Over time, this observation will “merge to self-art” and the artist’s ability to “build on” to it makes the piece what can be recognized as “artwork.”
This Surreal Dream Catcher is a landscape of browns and greens. In the vast greenery of this piece, a single flag prevails. “I was trying to capture that feeling of a dream that is not real yet feels very real,” said Kavya Kataria, Class of 2018, as she described the idea and meaning behind her art piece. “The flag represents postmodernism; the future.”
Drowning is the mysterious seascape made by Jiya Puri from the class of 2018. The idea behind her art was to make a “precise” and “unmeasurable” piece and so she painted the ocean. The nails were added to portray the “pinning down of the innocent; Jesus,” Puri said. This idea evolved halfway through Drowning’s creation, building on to the original idea to make it what was previously defined as acceptable “artwork.” Aashna Kulshreshtha, Class of 2018, said, “Jiya’s painting messes me up and I like that.”
The Man in Green is a portrait of Alisa Husain’s, Class of 2019, uncle. She first sketched this portrait live back at home. It was initially recommended by Mr. Kumar to do this as her project. Alisa is happy with what she has made because, whilst going through the process, she was able to learn and practice abilities such as the matching of colors which was a challenge for her.
Although all these artists are proud of what they are presenting, there are negative reactions from other artists and the audience on the way the paintings were exhibited. Some, who admire art, noticed the exhibition right away. Some even keenly await the organisation of a new one. However, most students walk by this exhibition without stopping to take a look or notice it.
When asked about the exhibition, Puri said, “If the lighting was better and had more of an angle, the shadow of the nails could‘ve been emphasized better.”
Kataria also emphasized on the lighting and then said, “It would have been better in the exhibition room in the Media Centre.” Kulshreshtha also said, “These painting stand out and need attention.”
On the contrary, Husain said, “I actually like the setting. It gives a perspective. It slides by, not standing out and that is cool.”
Photo By
Dorinda Hardage
thewoodstocker.com 