Small wonders at display in Mumbai

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” These famous words by Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh encapsulate the idea behind a new exhibition titled We Contain Multitudes, which is underway at Mumbai’s Fort-based Galerie Isa. Curated by acclaimed artist Ali Banisadr, it not only features his works but also those of others such as French-American Jules de Balincourt, US-based Amy Cutler, Ian Davis, Matthew Ronay and Iranian Maryam Hoseini, who work in a miniature mode. For this show, they have combined several small-scale figures to create a larger picture.

WORLDS ON A CANVAS

Ali came up with the idea as he has been following the works of the artists closely. “I felt there was a connection between all their creations. Although their works may be large, there are smaller figures on it. The idea took off from there and then we built it to add more depth.”

He adds, “Each one of them is looking at multiple things and combining it in one place and then deconstructing it. All the artists have a surreal theme in common. There is a general thought about what it could be about when you look at it, but the longer you look at it, you discover diverse facets.”

All The World’s A Stage (left) and Big Little Monsters

Apart from bright colours, the works also have a lot of textures. For instance, Jules is known for his trademark use of evocative hues that are reminiscent of the works of French artist Henri Matisse, often touted the greatest colourist of the 20th century. Here, he has sought inspiration from Persian and Mughal miniatures. Matthew uses papier-mâché, fabric, and raw wood to create installations. Amy draws from popular culture, fairytales, and her experiences to convey the complexities of womanhood. For this show, she has studied patterns from Japanese, Indian and Persian cultures and combined them to create intricate details and patterns. 

Ali, who usually dabbles with dynamism and conflict, has experimented with newer themes. He says, “Earlier, my works were dense and fragmented. But now, I experiment with the concepts of air and space. I’m making the colours myself that I am using in my works.” 

We Contain Multitudes is on till March 12 at Galerie Isa, Fort from 11 am - 6 pm.