A striking feature of the 14th edition of Emerging Palettes, Hyderabad-based Srishti Art Gallery’s annual exhibition, is the level of experimentation with mediums and the varied expressions presented by the participating artists. This year’s event showcases a blend of woodcuts, installations, paintings, and sculptures, all aimed at delving into themes like consumerism, gender sensitivity, and urbanization. Emerging Palettes, organized in collaboration with the Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, has brought together the works of 11 artists who have completed their Masters in Arts within the last four years. From over 200 applicants, these artists were meticulously selected by a jury that included Srishti Art Gallery’s owner Lakshmi Nambiar, and artists Varunika Saraf and Amit Kumar Jain.
Set in the recently refurbished Srishti Art Gallery located in Jubilee Hills — now celebrating 20 years since its founding — the exhibition features a large, mesmerizing three-panel woodcut on paper by Arpan Sadhukhan welcoming visitors near the entrance. Titled “Return of Gargantua,” this intricate black-and-white piece meditates on economic disparity, a subject Sadhukhan further examines through distorted figures in another series titled “Dystopia,” which encompasses 21 prints. These works highlight the plight of middle-income households, contrasting it with the glittering, aspirational lifestyles pitched by advertising and marketing companies.
On another wall, vibrant and visually compelling smaller artworks are arranged in multiple panels. Viewed from different angles, these pieces depict a wedding scene that subtly transitions to revealing a bride married to a dog, symbolizing the superstitious practice of marrying either the groom or bride to an animal or inanimate object to ward off the evil eye. These thought-provoking artworks are part of Siddharth Soni’s series titled “This is Where I Come From.” In another creation that mirrors a maze, aptly named “Vortex,” Soni illustrates how individuals are drawn into and trapped within rigid belief systems.
These exhibits make clear that the art displayed at Emerging Palettes strives to ignite conversations and transcend mere decorative purposes.
Elsewhere in the gallery, Avijit Dutta offers pieces where individuals’ faces are obscured by bags, creating a powerful commentary on identity and anonymity. Another of his works draws an outsider’s perspective on residential spaces, likening grilled windows to decorated prisons.
. He also portrays the bond between laborers and their materials in Kolkata’s industrial districts near the Howrah Bridge, linking rapid urbanization with the diminishment of natural spaces.
Debashruti Aich’s art marries multiple techniques and media, such as watercolor on parchment paper and embroidery on organza silk, to explore the feminine form. One of her works depicts the chaos and complexity experienced during adolescence, while another reveals the journey toward women becoming comfortable in their own skin.
Deparna Saha’s installation stands out as it features a collection of smaller images on handmade paper, strung together on a black thread. This arrangement evokes photographs freshly developed and hung to dry, chronicling themes of family ties, culinary traditions, and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Digvijay Sinh Jadeja presents “Bandwallas at Nyay Mandir,” featuring portraits of men associated with music bands. Adding to the gallery’s atmosphere, the rhythmic sound of typewriter keys periodically interrupts the quiet. This sound emanates from Mahesh Mothe’s installation comprising typewriter keys and a speaker, a piece that nods to tools of communication while reminding viewers to value everyday objects often taken for granted.
In another clever use of mundane objects, Poojan Gupta reimagines a pharmaceutical blister pack in “Conversations,” drawing attention to the significant amount of medical waste generated daily.
Other notable artists featured in this year’s exhibition include Anshuka Mahapatra, Digvijaysinh Jadeja, Rima Paul, and Shilpa Bawane, each contributing their unique voice and artistic perspective to the rich tapestry of the event.
Emerging Palettes 2023 not only underscores the creative vitality of Hyderabad’s young artists but also serves as a platform for thoughtful discourse on pressing social issues. The exhibition remains on view at the Srishti Art Gallery in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, until July 31. This pivotal event in the city’s cultural calendar continues to foster dialogue and push the boundaries of contemporary art.
