Life - Paintings By Avani Rao Gadra

There can be no broader title for ...anything. Sure enough, this exhibition demonstrates the repertoire that earned this lady all her laurels.

Alankrita Art Gallery is organising an exhibition of charcoal on canvas and ink on paper paintings, titled Life, by Dr Avani Rao Gandra, from 25th January. A collection of 22 paintings is on display.

Life, as Dr Avani Rao says, begins from the womb of the mother and takes shape with the evolution of time. The foetus forms embedded in the womb, like seeds sown in the soil by the farmer, experience an anxiety, to break through and flow out. Here we see the essence of life, where it is seen yet not seen, where it is rooted yet fragmented. The visual realities of experiencing these works, in their physical and intellectual capacities, provoke thoughts and feelings closely related to motherhood and delivery.

The pictorial space and the devices which are used in making the experience possible are the results of the artist's understanding of how the sweep of charcoal over the tactile surface of the canvas appropriates as a tool, contributing the making of an organic form.

Dr. Gadra was born in 1968, and has done an M A in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archeology, an M Phil in Andhra Painting and a Ph D in Contemporary Andhra Painting from Osmania University. She has conducted various solo shows at Alankritha Art Gallery and 2-person shows at Shrishti Art Gallery, Hyderabad. She has also participated in Group International Art Shows at the Shrishti Art Gallery & Space Gallery, the P S Telugu University art gallery, AIFACS and the Hyderabad Art Society.

Dr. Gadra received the Highly Commendable Award from AIFACS and the Hyderabad Art Society, in 2002 and 2003 respectively. She has conducted various workshops in the city.

The exhibition is on till 3rd February from 11:00am to 7:00pm everyday, expect Sundays. For further details, please contact the art gallery at 2311-3709/98850-80296.