Art show aims at taking paintings to every household

In total, 114 art works in different mediums and formats by 27 artists all within the size of 1ft x 1ft are on display at Labernum and Indigo Galleries at Cholamandal Artists’ Village in Injambakkam. “The price range of artworks starts from Rs 5,000. Some of the senior artists’ works also have been displayed at the show,” says Saravanan S, artist and president of the association. 

According to Saravanan, the art exhibition has been organised as per the vision of renowned artist KCS Panicker one of the founding members of Progressive Painters’ Association. “He always says art is not a luxury. For him, if someone likes an artwork, he should be able to buy it too. Way back in 1971, Panicker conducted a show with just small artworks in Mumbai and in Chennai the next year. Both were a huge success. Micro Trends is just an extension of it,” he says. 

Saravanan too has his artworks displayed at Micro Trends. “My paintings are from my tribal series. To be more specific, what tribals’ dreams would revolve around because they live in sync with nature,” says Saravanan. 

Artist Jacob Jebaraj, also the joint secretary of the association, says that they aim at reaching out to people, who think they can’t afford art. “People living in flats may not have a space for a bigger art. But they can also buy an original piece of art smaller in size at an affordable price. It also serves as a platform for young artists. Chennai is growing as an art market. Just like other art forms, people have begun to recognise artists and their works,” says Jacob Jayaraj, who has displayed six of his works under the title Genosis. 

The highlight of the show is 400 page compilation of quarterly Art Trends magazine published between 1961 and 1982, which is available on sale. “It is a limited edition and will be of immense use to art students and connoisseurs alike,” says Saravanan. Also, they have organised film screenings as part of the show. “On April 7, a film on architecture titled Visual Acoustics will be screened in association with the Friday Movie Club,” says Saravanan. 

The association also has plans to take Micro Trends to other cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. In Chennai, the exhibition will be on till April 12.