Real and surreal worlds juxtaposed on canvas

In a rare piece of artwork on canvas, a series of paintings on the unique theme of 'pseudo-realism' are on display in the national capital.

Titled 'Pseudo-realist Renderings', the collection by artist Devajyoti Ray, who is considered the first to introduce this particular genre in Indian art, features mostly abstract optical images with random use of colours and geometrical shapes, borrowing heavily from everyday life situations.

"The word 'pseudo-realism' was first coined in film criticism in the US and is a new and untried style of art in India," says Ray, who's also a Superintendent of Police.

"The idea is to portray a realistic thing without painting it in realistic colours and yet making it three-dimensional and comprehensible and almost realistic. Human element is strong in all the paintings and their actions are very basic," he says.

Ray started experimenting with 'pseudo-realistic' concepts in his paintings in 2003 and since then he has held exhibitions in Dubai, Arizona and Havana, apart from India, on this relatively nascent art form.
    
Another distinguishing element of this art form is the use of metaphorical figures and shapes in the attempt to express realism, Ray says.

"In order to approach reality through unrealistic terrain, even simple shapes and objects can assume different connotations. For example, in of the paintings the colour of beer is shown as blue and black, though one can easily identity that it is a beer bottle from a distance," he says.

A total of 20 paintings of Ray are on display at Sridharani Art Gallery from Oct 5 to 15, where they are also open for sale.

"The paintings are priced between Rs 42,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh ," the artist adds.