Poetry and art are kindred spirits, with the former often invoking rich visual imagery that invites readers to paint mental pictures. Envisioning these poetic landscapes can be an elusive gift, but for those who resonate more vividly with the brush than the pen, Forum Art Gallery in Adyar presents a fascinating merge of these two worlds in the art exhibition “Samarpanam”.
This engaging exhibit is the brainchild of artist Thejomaye Menon, whose canvases breathe life into the poems penned in Jyothi Ganesh’s book, also titled “Samarpanam”. Viewers can immerse themselves in this artistic dialogue, where each painting elaborates a narrative first woven by words.
The inauguration of this exhibition on April 8th transformed the ground floor of the gallery into a cultural salon, surrounded by Menon’s works. The event commenced an evening rich with slam poetry, while the author-poet Jyothi Ganesh and the artist Thejomaye Menon graced the audience with an interactive session. The poems resonated through the space, their verses leaping from the page to the canvas, inviting the audience not merely to listen but to observe the poetry in a parallel visual dimension.
“Thejo and I share a long-standing friendship. It was just a few months ago when I envisioned my poems extending beyond the written medium and into the realm of visual art. I approached her with the idea of transmuting the essence of my poetry into paintings, to which she was enthusiastically receptive,” shared Jyothi. She reflected on the impetus behind this project, recalling how she often perceived her prose through the auditory beauty of raagas.
A standout piece, “Lotus”, translates the lines “Blossoming in muddied mired waters, long stalked buds opening to the first rays of the sun, at dawn,” into a visual ballet of aquatic blooms caressed by beams of morning light. It is this vivid language of Jyothi that Thejomaye resurrects through her artistry, a tranquil scene wrought in color and form.
Thejomaye’s venture into this project represents a bold divergence from her usual artistic path. “She has interpreted the poems in her own unique manner. It is imperative for an artist to have the freedom to explore and express,” commented Jyothi on the painter’s creative liberties.
Another painting, “Eclipse”, demonstrates Thejomaye’s ability to harness the intangible and shape it into a tangible spectacle. She dissects the complex duality of light and darkness, which are often merely deemed opposing forces. Inspired by lines depicting light as a “blinding white and stark, characteristically crystal clear” entity, she envisages the essence of existence in sunlight, intertwined with the silhouette of leaves.
The experience of creating for “Samarpanam” has been a stimulating challenge for Thejomaye, who is traditionally a figurative painter. This is her maiden collection dedicated entirely to a singular thematic pursuit. “The endeavor to distill and simplify my thoughts for interpretation has been an enriching process,” she explains.
The “Samarpanam” exhibition is a testament to the transcendent quality of art and poetry. It invites us to explore the subtle, yet profound, connections between the written and the visual, asking the observer to perceive beyond the bounds of the canvas and the page.
The gallery will continue hosting this unique exhibition at Forum Art Gallery until May 11, providing a sanctuary for those who seek a dialogue between the senses, where poetry and paint converge in quiet harmony.
