If you are not traveling this summer, you can escape to different worlds through art. When thinking of global art, images of European and North American artists often come to mind. However, across Chennai, works by numerous artists from Portugal, Cuba, Northern Africa, and Latin America are on display.
Huruffiya Art Movement
The Huruffiya art movement, which originated in Muslim-majority countries, combines Arabic calligraphy with modern abstract art. At the exhibition 'Other Worlds of Art: Artworks from Latin America and Northern Africa' at DakshinaChitra museum in Muthukadu, works by Huruffiya artists Rachid Koraichi and Nja Mahdaoui from Northern Africa are showcased. Curator Lilliam Boti, who owns the entire collection, explains, "The artists study calligraphy until they become masters and then use the techniques to create contemporary artwork." She adds, "We have 72 artworks in categories such as abstract art, conceptual art, and portraiture. Most of the artists have won national awards in their own countries."
Argentinian Artist Carlos Alonso
Argentinian artist Carlos Alonso, now in his 90s, had his daughter kidnapped during the military government in Argentina. Many of his works pay tribute to his lost daughter and are political in nature. However, at the exhibition, a rare work by Alonso depicts renowned tango singer Carlos Gardel. Lilliam notes, "Alonso was asked by the philatelic office of Argentina to create an image for a stamp for the anniversary of the birth of Carlos Gardel. He agreed, and this work is a stamp in Argentina."
Tomie Ohtake's Journey
The collection also includes a work by Tomie Ohtake, who visited Brazil in her 40s to see her brother. "Brazil has the largest community of Japanese people outside of Japan, so there are millions of Japanese in Brazil," says Lilliam. However, due to the war, Ohtake could never return to Japan and decided to stay. She also decided to become an artist and focus on art for the rest of her life. She is credited with introducing a particular kind of abstract art in Brazil.
Joma Sipe's Crystalline Art
For Portuguese artist Joma Sipe, crystals are points of intersection where energy and light concentrate. His works, titled Upasika, are exhibited at the Theosophical Society in Adyar. These intricate black and white ink drawings feature Swarovski crystals and are influenced by the writings of theosophists Helena Blavatsky and Annie Besant. "Nature, he says, is full of sacred geometric patterns invisible to the human eye. The elliptical chords of DNA are visible only through a microscope. These patterns repeat, and I use art and crystals to represent those energy fields."
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