June 4 - 11 , 2004 11 am – 7 pm "Explorations of the familiar" - people, patterns and places... an exhibition of photographs by Romil Sheth Venue: Sundar Mahal, Padmavathiar Road, Jeypore Colony (off gopalapuram) Romil Sheth is a young photographer whose show "Explorations of the Familiar - people, places and patterns" is a canvas of visual images that he has been working on since the last three years. A practicing architect, Sheth's visual oeuvre is conditioned to see things at many levels and many places. With people he traverses the category of the photographer as tourist, as reporter, as family and observer and sometimes even borders on that of the voyeur, a term seen in much negativity over the years but that which allows the photographic eye to record images with a paradigm not always safe. He interacts with friends, people on the street, portraits of family and turns rather simplistic events and situations into visuals of layered meaning. Guests at a wedding transform into subjects who are seen by the camera. Grandfathers becomes models.......
In finality Sheth moves his work into the genre of the abstract with his photographs of patterns. Ethereal wisps, streaked with shapes, light filtering in and a play of mood punctuate this series. Here the immediacy and fluidity of the play of light and designs created allow for surprise, allowing the viewer the mystery of imaging the actual object. What is this? What was this? This mystery allows imagination and excitement to traipse along, a feeling evinced with the viewing of Sheth's work. In "Exploring the Familiar - people, places and patterns " he succeeds in taking the viewer to differing heights of experiential being. One needs, like him, to stop and view the image in the minds eye....." Ranvir Shah.
"Romil Sheth's
exhibition captures what you've seen, hoping that this time you'll notice."
"The collection,
which Sheth has been building for three years, reminds one of the importance
of just stopping to stare."
"Black and
white pictures added a dash of classy, colorful energy at the Sundar Mahal,
when Romil Sheth's exhibition organized by Prakriti Foundation was inaugurated
on Friday evening."
"Art forms
change. But the familiar remains, waiting to be explored, with or without
that creative tingle of excitement. As when you look at a photograph of
Kathakali dancers having their faces painted in Romil Sheth's exhibition.
Or at the clarity of outline, the play of light and shade, in the print
of stone steps leading down to a tank. Familiar? There was one photograph
that spoke, though, of an older man, Gandhi cap on, seated, disconsolate,
while a boy casts an uncertain look at him. A slice of life. But there
was also this print of a legless beggar amidst an unseeing crowd. Familiar?
The camera graduated quite a while ago, from a gadget to the status of
an artist's tool. Sheth's next show could be, hopefully, a peep into the
unfamiliar."
"The photography was good and unique." "Very familiar, yet can see something new." "Excellent
stuff, good lens work, pretty innovative.
"Fascinating scenes captured on paper." "We mused over some and were amused by some." "I enjoyed viewing most pictures, especially those that are like visual puzzles." "Patterns in non-life form is nothing new. Spotting patterns among people is difficult. Romil excels here." (T S Mahadevan) "High quality
of work. Beautiful exhibition revealing a real artist, a real sense of
composition but also someone who catches pictures which 'tell you something.'
"Amazing use of contrasts, angles and patterns. Making the familiar then unfamiliar, hence more familiar. Great!" "It was nice to see Mumbai in Chennai with an artistic point of view. Keep it up." "It's good, it's not great, try to be more creative, being nature oriented and pleasant scenarios. On the whole good work." "The men with
no legs and arms was disturbing, as was the child lying on the street in
the foreground with the parrots in the background.
"Could be made a bit more 'understand'able" (Arvind) "Really nice. Could have included some beautiful women and more temples / architecture." (Shuba) "You have captured the 'people' very well depicting the realities and ironies of life. The legless man on wheels shows that whatever may be the problem, life goes on." (Harsh) "Inspiring work. A theme would have been meaningful. Good printing." "Wonderfully expressive and evocative. Reaffirms the stark beauty of black & white." (Chetan Shah, filmmaker) "It is said that any set of photographs raises two questions. 'What is worth looking at?' and 'What right we have to observe certain things?' There are quite a few images here, which are worth looking at. Specifically those which capture everyday life taken in the streets or at a wedding reception of some sort. Only thing which disturbs my eye is the photograph of the cripple. The issue is, do we have the right to observe this and in the process reduce it to an item in an exhibition?" (Venkatesh Chakravarthy) |
As far as his
reach into architechturally inspired spaces gets, he is looking at buildings
and urban landscapes with a trained eye and yet there is no static flat
representations. Landscapes are seen populated by people or nature and
are alive and viewed in context. Light, aesthetic proportions and a story
are present and imminent.
Review
