winter art exhibtion
A walk in 75 images through the French countryside
PANAJI
As one ambles through the art gallery observing the works of internationally acclaimed artist Julian Opie, one almost feels like you are walking alongside him around the French countryside.
And indeed, rains notwithstanding, art enthusiasts from far and wide that descended to the cheerful art gallery of Sunaparanta, Altinho, for the inauguration of the artist’s exhibition ‘Winter’ came away inspired, some of them silently appreciating the deeper meaning behind the works while others enthusiastically discussing their interpretations among themselves.
The exhibition which is being held in collaboration with the British Council , was unveiled in the presence of Kumar Iyer, Deputy High Commissioner, British Council India, Rob Lybes, Director British Council, Siddarth Shanghvi, Director, Sunaparata and curator for the exhibition, and Raj Salgaonkar, Chairman, Sunaparanta and his wife Dipti.
Consisting of 75 prints , the series represents steps on a circular walk taken by the artist through the French countryside on a harsh winter day with influences from Dutch landscape paint to ‘Street View’ on Google Maps.
Speaking on the occasion, Rob Lyne states that this was not the first time that that Opie’s works have been displayed in India. “Opie’s works were last featured in India in 1998 but it is however, the first time that the British Council has brought a visual art exhibition to Goa, despite the fact that the British Council has had its presence in India for 67 years,” he said. He also stated that it was important to build more people to people link between the two nations and added that with Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary coming up next year they hope to bring more theatre to India too.
Iyer also echoed Lyne’s sentiments on the importance of people relations. “While building trade relations and business partnerships is important it is evenings like these which help build closer relationships as it is impossible to build relationships without understanding the art and history of the other person and how they see the world,” he said .
The event saw the presence of the who’s who of Goa including Pratapsing Rane, Artists Hanuman Kambli and Harshada Kerkar, Professor Delfim Correira da Silva, Director, Institute Camoes and The Consul General of Portugal in Goa, Rui Carvalho Baceira, among others.
