Art not just for the sake of art!

Byline: Peden Doma Bhutia

MUSCAT Eoe1/4" Think of Batman and what comes to your mind A superhero undaunted in the face of evil, right But Thai artist Tatsanasomboon JirapatEoe1/4aos depiction of the macho Batman is a little different. In his painting, Tatsanasomboon has the caped crusader wearing lipstick and draped in a Thai silk shawl.

As Bait Al Baranda opens its doors to another Opera Gallery exhibition in Oman, art aficionados are in for a treat as they get to witness 50 extraordinary works of art.

The weeklong exhibition, held in collaboration with the Muscat Municipality, is on till October 18.

Besides contemporary art, the exhibition also features some masterpieces by Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Juan Miro and Maurice de Vlaminck. The choice of work is eclectic and no two works on display look alike. Juxtaposing unique and dissimilar works of art, the exhibition evokes a mix of emotions.

Bertrand Epaud, the general manager of Opera Gallery Dubai, says: Eoe1/4EoAt Opera Gallery, we believe in giving free reign to emotions. Seeing two completely different works of art that are eclectic, the eyes are overwhelmed and therefore, they make their own selection of the ones that really appeal to them. This helps open up the emotions.Eoe1/4A[yen]

Touch of humour

Eoe1/4EoSo if we have Kim Chang YoungEoe1/4aos Sand Play, representing the co-existence of illusion and reality on one wall, the neighbouring wall has Yim Tae Kyu project reality with a touch of humour.Eoe1/4A[yen]

Kim coats canvas with real sand and then colours it, to give the impression of footprints or scratches by hand. At a glance, since the sand is real, the traces, too, look real, although, actually, they are merely illusions painted in oil colours.

Yim, on the other hand, features three teenagers, each reading a magazine but instead of concentrating on what they have in hand, the girls on either side are more interested in knowing what the boy is reading.

Sticking to her signature style of depicting women in various emotional moments, Vietnam-born artist Kelyne celebrates the relationship between a mother and her child in her painting.

Even though Opera Gallery doesnEoe1/4aot do too much of calligraphy, Bertrand made space for Tunisian artist Mahdaoui NjaEoe1/4aos work as he found it unusual and striking. One of the most interesting paintings on display is French-Canadian artist Therrien RockEoe1/4aos Petits Bonheurs or Little Moments of Happiness. It illustrates that moments from everyday life can provide inspiration for art.

Something new

From a distance, all you see is an old couple lazing in their armchairs with their dog by the side. But then, as you move closer, Therrien surprises you with details marked in pencil. The scribbles tell you that the lady is reading the History of Life, which has Eoe1/4Y[pounds sterling]Open to page 48Eoe1/4ao marked in it, while the man is looking at an angle of eight degrees. Also, there are little pug marks to denote where the dog had been. Every time you look intently at the picture, you discover something new.

Another interesting exploration of viewpoints comes into focus in the portraits of famous Arabic singer Om Kolthoum. Two artists from two different parts of the world represent Om Kolthoum as they perceive her. BahrainEoe1/4aos Jamal Abdul Rahim understands the singerEoe1/4aos music, and paints what he feels after listening to her songs. So, his emotions take the shape of the various colours, in which he tries to depict her face. On the other hand, Diamantopoulos Stelio may not understand the language that Om Kolthoum sings in, but heEoe1/4aos aware of her iconic status and thus presents her in all her grandeur.

One of the most impressive talents of the exhibition is 23-year-old photographer Khalid Al Hamad, whose By Beauty depicts a woman trying to free herself from the shackles that tie her down.

If you drop in at this show, you are bound to be struck by one particular art work. Park Sung TaeEoe1/4aos ingenious art uses net laid on wood to form the figure of a horse.

Unique

The horse reveals its own distinctive and symbolic nature when exposed to light. This is when the material and virtual frames of the installations produce a surrealistic effect.

The exhibition that displays some of the most unique pieces of art is the perfect venue for connoisseurs to pick up something to cherish.

And even if you donEoe1/4aot intend to buy anything, it is definitely worth a visit Eoe1/4" who knows, it might just help you give free rein to your emotions.

Muscat Press and Publishing House SAOC 2009

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