THE REBELLIOUS INSTINCTS

The discourses on female identity and subjectivity often turn out to be an exposition of women's rights and women's behaviour.The whole idea of gender issue is often reduced and condensed to such a form where it is separated from the other forces of society. Is it really possible to study gender issue with this separation in its stand?This is where Manmeet Gill, Sonia Mallick and Dipannita Biswas strike our common belief of inhibitions, prohibitions and restrictions. Chandan Panda and Leonard Bey expands these coercions to a socio-political periphery and somewhere they dream to have a revolution and change.The five painters of VIBGYOR are in their nascent stage to sprout into the experimental world of differet discourses. Keeping a track with their academics they are in the process of making as well as breaking. In certain stages the thoughts collide. And many a time the fresh and young spirit yells to pick up the challenge through forms any colours in the portrayal of their theme and content.Gender apart from being the fundamental organizing category of experience is a branch of interdisciplinsry enquiry. Here sexuality, psyche and above all society play the major role in building up the female subjectivity. This has been the forefront issue revolving around Sonia, Manmeet and Dipannita's paintings.Though Sonia sees through monochromatic colour scheme keeping the light and shadow in rectangular blocks,the woman peeps through the different shades of blue in acrylic medium.Her eyes connote amultitude of expressions of being herself and the open lock as her earring is quite symbolic to reveal her freedom. A freedom that she has earned after a struggle over the ages.Yes she is - Manmeent's loud colours and feminine exposition in her real self makes this statement.Her portrayal is quite direct and she strongly denies to the set role models associated with womanhood."I want to be me, only me" is the recurrent voice clear in her choice of characters, colours and themes.Dipannita is more concerned with creating a rebel from within. Her photographic imprints and the direct conversion of those to the canvas make the blended feel of surreal and symbolical image on a two dimensional plane. Leonard's outbrust connects us to the symbolical image on a two dimensional plane. Leonard's outbrust connects us to the socio-political unrest of the present times and the mutilated limbs with bloodstains depict the confrontation with the hegemony. Chandan gives the final note of harmony. The rising sun and the desire to touch it ae both emotive and optimistic.True, their ideas are rich but is yet to be articulated skillfully.These budding painters have found out a common platform to stand together and share their way of thinking through their first group show at Academi of fine arts (New South Gallery) from 9th January to 15th January.

Chandan Chakravorty