Kolkata india ORGANIC MIND by Mantra Ardhana

15 April , 2016 : Allowing art lovers a glimpse into the mind of one of the most intriguing Indonesian artists of contemporary times, Nina Saxer curated ORGANIC MINDS encompassing a series of artworks by the famed Mantra Ardhana. The exhibition was inaugurated on April 15 by fashion designer duo Dev r Nil at Range Gallery, 54, Lower Range, Beckbagan, Kolkata 19 and will continue till April 17.

The event was attended by cultural personality Anjum Katyal, German consulate Mr Iversen, socialite Corina Popa, entrepreneur Wu Lyv, Anita and Shreya Kanoi of Living Free. The evening also saw actor Bobby Chakraborty, social worker Urmi Basu and models Nick Rampal and Mohammad Shabbir Baig among others.

Mantra’s art and music reflect a tingly dosage of the ethnic identity of Lombok, which he infuses into the contemporary and ever changing accents of modern life like technological advancement and multiculturalism. The paintings are an abstract amalgamation of vibrant hues paired with stark grays that seem to bring to the fore a heightened sense of emotional turmoil wreaking the human psyche of the neo-postmodern man.

Speaking about the exhibition curator Nina Saxer says, “Organic Mind is the second painting exhibition that I am curating and it is personal to me. The first exhibition that I had curated was a homage to my late brother-in-law, Philippe Saxer. This time around, the artist is a dear friend.” Nina further added, “I am very glad that I can finally introduce a celebrated Balinese artist to Kolkata and I am sure that the art lovers here are as excited about the exhibition as I am. Indonesia has a lot of great painters and Mantra Ardhana is one of them. A dedicated and passionate artist, he has worked very hard to hone his skills, style and concepts. Organic Mind was conceived by him in 2010.”

As for the artist and the exhibition, Nina said, “A contemporary visual artist, Mantra, through this collection, wants to express that we as human beings should not abandon our natural intellect that is drowning in consumerism and media influences in our contemporary neo-postmodern world. In this series, Mantra etches out a message, imploring us not to forget our organic skills, mind and feelings.”

Speaking at the inauguration, Dev r Nil’s Nil said, “While we come from a completely different genre of arts, recent years have seen us dabbing a bit in visuals as well with having curated quite a few exhibitions. The art in this exhibit is wonderfully layered and has multiple levels of interpretation.”

Speaking about Organic Mind, the artist Mantra Ardhana sent a note, “Organic Mind will change our outlook towards life through an artist’s controversial point of view.”

From images such as “A love and the rain” that shows two bodies intertwined in stark gray to the series “Half rain on my poetry” which are etchings of human visages, almost in impressionistic forms with the resplendent raindrops marring the human figures to “The poetry of a man who sell the world”, the paintings are emotive, expressive and magical.

“Organic Mind”features 13 acrylic on canvas and 14 water colour paintings.