Exploration of Existence

Rani Rekha

Exploration of existence

 In the Indian spiritual journey

individuals aspire to explore the interior landscape of the self, the seekers

look at the world as an expression of the Absolute and the overflow of it's perfection, and acknowledge change as the essence of existence. By exploring

many absurd actions of humans in the drama of life, the artist’s representation

of body and gestures become a significant vehicle to enact human aspirations.

Rani Rekha conveys the complexity and absurdity of human existence and the

theater of life with all its paradoxes, it is a slice of the reality we

witnesses.   The most predominant motif of this show is human figuration, an aesthetic and stance that emerges from

representing the overbearing reality of existence.

 The body

and gestures become a significant vehicle to enact the most violent and subtle

emotions in this tradition. Artists have used it to convey the complexity and

absurdity of human existence. This is a critical look at the self and the

others. It is about the theater of life with all its paradoxes, it is a slice

of reality we witness.

 Rani

Rekha has taken significant instances of a critical engagement with secular

imagery of using the body. The personal has become political, and the lived

experience of reality is engaged in creating a dialog in a narrative context.

The body and gender is a preoccupation with artists like her.  The subject becomes an object of our gaze, scrutiny

and contemplation. It makes us aware of the process of objectification.

 Rani Rekha’s imagery is from the realm of the personal and

rooted in the urban context. She embellishes her surfaces with images and

delicately paints with a graphic sensibility. Her visual language has a strong

suggestive context. The dynamics of the body is part of her preoccupation. The

imagery is layered like a frame to be filled by delicate water colour. Her skill as a painter has reached an articulated level and

she is able to represent  her concern with a new found craftsmanship.

 Rani Rekha has been using the human

body as her focus, drawn with the ease of classical masters they are in action

and repose. The artist negotiates with this legacy of figuration as seen by

other contemporary Indian artists .  Yoga integrates the body and

addressing the immutable link between the body, breath and the mind, it is a

living tradition that nurtures inner and outer well being. The practice of

asanas in search of the optimal state of balance of the body and mind. These

archetypal stances have become stoic gestures of poise. These extreme gestures

overcome the limitations of the physical and mental states.   The handling of volume of the figures

achieves an iconic presence and a corporeal solidity of classical sculptural

drawings .The representation of the image is up-front, the protagonists are

constructed to confront the viewer in stances of yogic "asanas", acrobatic

contortions or in meditation. The synoptic situations are taut and dramatic.

They are enacted against a backdrop of an urban setting or operate in a

textured colour-field space. The figures are modeled in classical manner,

reminiscent of Renaissance masters and also referring to the neoclassical

ideas. Desire and

liberation of the body is the dominant sentiment.

   The artist has used the reference of an athletic body which is caught in action of

gymnastic, diving and Yoga In the process of integrating the body and addressing the immutable

link between the body, breath and the mind the artist refers to yoga. To bring

about a state of personal reintegration and the practice of asanas in search of

the optimal state of balance of the body and mind. In the process of layering

the artists overlaps pigment and photographic imagery of urban spaces. In these

works, the saturated colours enhance the dramatic content and raise the

ordinary to the metaphorical. She focuses on the flyovers the most modern of

all entities that ease the urban traffic. The artist juxtaposes contrasting

elements that are part of ebb and flow of motion.

 The works in the exhibition focus on issues that relate to

the changing dynamics of society and the self. The imagery is related to the

philosophical values of humanism. The artist believes in connecting and

communicating with the body.  The artist's focus on the obvious irony which

coexists with the new economy and lifestyles of a vibrant India.

Suresh Jayaram