Gallery Ragini presents Rohit Sharma’s Romance with Delhi Roads

New Delhi: With its aim of supportingthe emerging contemporary artists, Gallery Ragini presents Romancing the Road , a solo exhibitof artworks by Rohit Sharma at Choko La, Khan Market, New Delhi from November 13, 2009 to December10, 2009.   What’s interestingis that the opening of the exhibition will be marked with an evening ofpoetry by art curator Alka Raghuvanshi, poets Robinson,Laxmi Shankar Vajpayi and Ravinder Malhotra. Says Nidhi Jain, Director, Gallery Ragini : “Art and poetry have aninterminable bond and evoke feelings of oneness. Both are reflections ofsensitive souls trying to create, understand and contribute to human growth atthe highest level. Through this endeavor of bringing the two art formstogether, we attempt to explore the romance between poetry and art in anevening of poets reading their works amongst art works and people who love andcare about art and poetry.”   Coming back to the exhibits,Rohit’s works focus on the various nuances of everyday life associated with thecity roads. Says Rohit Sharma: “ Everycityhas a way of encompassing individuals in its own way. The diversity ofthe Delhi is extremely spell-binding as there exists landmarksrepresenting the ancient, medieval and modern that gives Delhi a uniqueidentity. The roads that leadon to these landmarks have their own stories to tell. These works thus,talkabout Delhi,its antiquity, rich cultural heritage and constant growth.”   Rohit’s romance of the roads hasa timeless quality about it as he documents the various periods and thetransition that has taken place. His fascination for minute details makes theworks subtle-offering a whole new perspective to the viewer making one wonderif there is more to a road than just the destination.   The cow, that plays an integralpart of the works, finds itself at crossroads within the changing urbanscenario. Interplaying with the maze of the road-converging, diverging, Rohit’scows are in a state of question, answer, conflict, dilemma and most of the timein deep meditative contemplation.   Rohit explores the idea ofKamadhenu- the mythical cow of fulfilling all desires and wishes it to be truein today’s context.   He shows thehelplessness of the Kamadhenu by painting it black, showing it is impossiblefor the Kamadhenu as well to fulfill the needs of today’s time. His portrayalof the white and black Kamadhenu together shows that they are very much twosides of the same coin. The work titled Kamdhenu with milk displays howhuman breed wants to empty it of all that it has to offer merrily leaving it asa shadow of its former self.     The use of red in the background inmost of the works is a conscious effort to draw attention to the road rageevident in our city. It also in many ways signifies attraction for theoutsider. The riddle for the young child to make the calf reach its mother inthe work titled Puzzled is a beautiful way to communicate about the presentstate. On the other hand, Modern Cow shows the replacement ofcows by the milk vans. The modern cow (milk van) which travels everyday fromthe outskirts of Delhion four wheels makes an interesting satirical comment. The depiction of thevehicles with tails, bringing milk into the city and is a reflection of thecultural change with life moving at an uncontrollable pace.   Rohit is touched by the obviousand easy to ignore but none can deny the role played in the life of denizens ofDelhi by theubiquitous auto-rickshaw. The young man with a backpack pushing the auto-rickshawmakes a subtle comment as how much goes in everyday journey-the cajoling,pleading and threatening.   His vintagecar of a bygone era is a reflection of the attachment of the owner not willingto let go taking pride in his possession. He paints his vintage cars golden,showing what they truly are.   These works overall, are areflection of Rohit’s intimacy with his city, his love of its various simpleaspects from the roads, the cows, the old cars, inviting all of us to look atthe obvious with a new understanding and sensibility.  

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