A Reconstruct: Indian modernism and more

In a solo exhibition titled ‘A Reconstruct’, artist Jeram Patel will distance from western concepts and seek a new Indian modernism.

His experimentation with materials led to the blowtorch series, focusing on abstraction and invoking strong imagery, his art, dominated by black in paper and canvas paintings, showcased free-flowing forms under tight control.

His aversion to color, especially in blowtorch works, reflected his belief in the decorative nature of color. Patel’s use of black fascinated him, carrying a mysterious and enchanting quality. His rigid consistency in rejecting sentimentality and adhering to form and material set him apart.

Patel’s most captivating endeavor materializes in his “Hospital” series circa 1966, delved into themes of death and despair, offering a unique perspective in his oveure. The drawings, both harrowing and unsettling, unfold from context to creation, capturing the hospital’s ethos, he reveals grotesque creatures and anatomical fragments, meticulously sketched with a crow quill and ink.

Prayag Shukla, a writer and observer of Jeram’s work, who has written about him in various journals including his solo exhibition in 2005 written that ” The art of Jeram Bhai, as we used to fondly call him, is full of wondrous heat, images, and one can easily deem him a great ‘Image Painter.’

He created masterpieces in his early phase with figures, objects, in a stunningly realistic manner, firing lines, the synergy one seldom finds in drawing. In his later blossoming works, once again, he fires a non-impactful barrage, creating a unique impact through the infusion of energy.”

Despite his quiet and retreating demeanor, Patel’s legacy remains mysterious and alluring, unmatched in Indian art for its sheer boldness. Patel, unlike popular artists, remained committed to sparse austerity and abstract quality.

When: 11 am – 7 pm; January 17 – February 17

Where: Palette Art Gallery, 14 Golf Links