Manu Parekh is as acquainted with the city of Benaras as he is with the back of his own hand. The city has been his muse for the better part of his career and through his exhibition, titled City of Magical Light, Manu hopes to highlight the various moods of the city. Literally encapsulating the magic of light in his artwork, pieces from this show will accurately display the glittery waters of the Ganges on a hot, sunny day and the flickering flames of prayer lamps at dusk when the city comes alive with the sound of prayer bells ringing feverishly and devotees chanting. Apart from merely depicting light, Manu has also used silhouettes of temples and shadows that they cast to create pieces of artwork that are truly breathtaking. Manu explains the inspiration behind the collection, telling us, “In Benaras, also known as the city of light, I observed the phenomenon of two kinds of lights. One is natural and the other is man-made. God coloured the evenings with a yellow and red sky and its reflections on water. Man-made light emanated from temples and this confluence created the City of Magical Light.”
When Up to January 5
Where Gallery Art & Soul, 1 Madhuli Shivsagar Estate, Worli
Contact www.galleryartnsoul.com