Mangalore: `Inner Voice' - Exhibition of Paintings Opens at Orchid Art Gallery
Report by Florine Roche
Pics Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 15: A week long exhibition of oil on canvass paintings titled “Antharnaada” (inner voice) by noted artist Kupanna Kandgal was formally opened at Orchid Art Gallery in the city on Tuesday, July 14. Manjunath Bhandary, Chairman of Bhandary Foundation inaugurated the exhibition by lighting the lamp. Kumble Narasimha Prabhu, immediate past President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Manjunath Bhandary pointed out that art is the gift of God. It is not possible to create art by learning. “Artists are imbibed by such great power that they can see what the sun cannot see”, he said referring `Ravi Kanaddannu Kavi Kanda’.
Chief guest Kumble Narasimha Prabhu stated that to see any art we need a third eye which has so many dimensions and feelings. “In olden days art wasn’t part of the business concept but now people invest in paintings and the corporate companies decorate their offices with paintings which has boosted the motivation level of the artists”, he stated.
23 paintings of the artist will be exhibited at the gallery between July 14 and 20th to give an opportunity for art enthusiasts to savor the paintings based on the spiritual theme. The paintings of Kupanna convey the experiences and visions which are beyond the visibility of the colour and lines. His in depth reading on spiritualism, the Zen philosophy, Jiddu Krishnamurthy etc., is clearly visible in his paintings. He has used sober colours to go with the theme of spiritualism. His work is nothing but poetry in colour on the canvas which represents the state of mind and creative conscience. Naturally his paintings are titled as voice of silence, voice of solitude, reflections, shadows etc.
A notable feature of his painting is the idols of duality which in fact reflect the two faces every individual has within him. Speaking to daijiworld Kapanna explained the idea behind the idols of duality saying “When we are young we try to understand the world. When we grow older we try to understand ourselves which is the duality that exists among all individuals. A person wants to be free of all dualities and he keeps on struggling to be alright. My paintings depict this theme also,” he explains.
“I like silence” he says adding some of his paintings like whisper, solitude amply reflect his state of mind of enjoying silence.
Though Kupanna has been painting for the last 50 years this is the first time the artist Kapanna Kandgal is exhibiting his work in Dakshina Kannada. He has recently shifted from Bangalore to Mangalore as his son is working in Sahyadri College of business management in Mangalore. He has come to Mangalore for the first time and feels the city has really fuelled his imagination.
www.orchidartindia.com