Virtuoso With A Touch: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR VIRTUOSO WITH A TOUCH

Like other arts, the plastic art too has always demanded and derived reactions
from its audience. But when it comes to contemporary arts, the effect aspired
by the artist could be anything: from harmonic appeal to bizarre experiences.
And at times the work of art could be so insipid that it hardly impresses the
sensibility of its spectators. Unfortunately, Ruchi Bhargava can be ranked in
the last category. Her exhibition of oils, titled "Virtuoso With A Touch", sounds
grand but hardly delivers even the basic aesthetic appeal sought from a work of
art.

Landscapes to flowers, motherhood to British, and period art to pseudo abstracts, the works only displayed a rambling that questions the credibility of a postgraduate student of art. Bhargava, a MA in painting and drawing from the Kanpur University, by mounting an appalling range of copy art, has not only put a question mark on her own integrity, but has also jeopardized the genuineness of the University. In fact, a hobby artist could have delivered far better quality than what is on display at the Bank.

The pathetic quality of her work merely aggravated and tested my patience. The bad sense of design, poor drawings and deplorable brushwork killed my adventure of knowing a relatively unknown/fresh artist. It is upon the selectors of the Bank to apply a little judiciousness in selecting artists for exhibitions. Its first show, which invited established local artists, was indeed an impressive one. But Ruchi Bhargava is a wasted endeavor. There are innumerable artists in and outside Hyderabad who can supplement the class of such a business establishment. And we hope the selectors will be more careful in their decision and contribute to enhancing the state of art in the city.