Artist Rathi Devi, on a large canvas illuminated by bright colours, has painted Arikomban, the wild, rice-loving, rabble-rousing tusker. The stunning acrylic and oil portrait makes one think of the elephant — his story, his future, and probably ours (humankind). 

Presence of Absence in Man — the Elephant in the Room, an exhibition curated by artist and poet Anuradha Nalappat and artist Anoop Kamath, makes one contemplate the idea of life.

Kiliyana, a collaborative work by the students of the School for the Blind, Aluva and artist Alex Chandy | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Anuradha in her curatorial note states the elephant in the room here is man, who is constantly in a state of turmoil, who could be violent and destructive. The show, she says, is a way of asking mankind to slow down, to think and find compassion within. 

The works of 60 artists on show are diverse in style, treatment and presentation. Most of them are also large and impactful.

Enas MJ’s installation | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A 9ft x 7ft steel and medicine foil installation, ‘Anchor and Wings’, by Enas MJ sets the tone. A deeply personal work, which he undertook after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (a progressive brain condition that causes movement problems), Enas used medicine foils, which he had kept over 10 years to create the wings of the sculpture. Enas, who has to be on medication all his life, has been collecting medicine foil for the past 22 years. While it depicts the constant tussle between sinking and rising, the sculpture also signifies hope. 

The show features paintings, sculpture, installations and photography. The show opens a window to each artist’s creative process. KT Mathai’s nuanced work ‘Nobody’s Seance’ brings with it a 3D quality, while Hariharan S’s photo art/archival prints address feministic concerns and notions of identity with equal felicity.

The works on display give the viewer something to ruminate over. Nandakumar PK’s untitled bronze sculpture of a sleeping man, for instance, is the sculptor’s exploration of the human body juxtaposed with other objects. By placing elements of nature along with sculpted figures, the sculptor tries to establish the oneness of everything in Nature.

Installation by students of the School for the Blind, Aluva, with Alex Chandy | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The show also features works of students with disabilities. An imposing sculpture of an elephant-bird occupies the centre of the gallery hall. ‘Kiliyana’, a collaborative work with the students of the School for the Blind Aluva and visual artist Alex Chandy, the sculpture has the body of a bird and the head of an elephant. Another installation by Alex also features the works of the students of the School for the Blind, Aluva. Titled ‘Insights of the Sight Impaired Children’, the work is a large circular rotating disc on which are placed tiny clay sculptures done by the students.

The exhibition is a fundraiser for the Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy, an animal welfare organisation.

It is on till December 10 at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi.