Medley — an art exhibition hosted by team Dexter from Kolkata, celebrated visual art without any boundaries. Without any fixed medium, theme or size, the artists could exhibit their works as freely as possible. The three-day event that began on March 31 and concluded on April 2 took place at Abanindranath Tagore Gallery at ICCR. Guests like footballer Rahim Nabi, Arijit Chakraborty (photographer), Debayan Pramanik (renowned sculptor), Atanu Paul (editor of India’s first Bengali photography magazine and runs Third Eye, a Bengali photography activist group) and singer Aniruddha Sarkar.Around 40 artists from around the country participated and showcased diverse artworks — from photography to sculptures — at the exhibition. Medley played around with the grandeur of visual arts and evoked an interest in everyone who walked in. The Telegraph was there to soak in the experience...
Some sketches that caught TT’s attention
Sculptor Debayan Pramanik with the founder of Dexter, Ishika Mukherjee.
Medley’s core committee from team Dexter.
“Medley is basically the Basanta Utsav of Dexter. We kept no medium, colour or style boundaries and didn’t even go for a highly complicated shortlisting procedure. Just like Holi is for everybody, irrespective of everything, we kept Medley open to all. So that everybody gets a chance to express themselves,” said Ishika Mukherjee, the founder of Dexter.
“It feels really great to be a part of this exhibition. Ishika is my college friend and we have come a long way to see this moment. She has been like a mother to me in college and in due course, she chose the path of art and I went for music. So we kind of had a pact that I’ll be attending her exhibitions and she will be going to my shows,” said Aniruddha Sarkar.
“It is a great initiative by Team Dexter to include photography as well in their exhibition. Back then there was a time when only artists were doing exhibitions, there was no place for photographers to display their work. And as Dexter works with the rising self-taught artists, the young generation will be extremely motivated by this work and they will come forward to create more and exhibit. The display was really beautiful, and it was a great show altogether,” said Atanu Paul.
“Diadem is all about the ‘crown of thorn in disguise’, which is offered to us at least once in our life. Sluggish, painful, age-old cliches that others try to adorn us with. It can be a pain we are running from or disdain for our glorious past. A seemingly innocent and beautiful cloak shrouding the hideous face of the clear and present danger. Maybe the taunt coated with surgery flowery words. The felicitation with the crown is an age-old habit where we don’t realise the damage we are doing to society’s psyche. The artwork was specially created on request from the Dexter team for their exhibition Medley,” said photographer Arijit Chakraborty on the work he presented at the exhibition.
“I have always admired artists who create these fantastic pieces. I went to many places and saw many beautiful artworks hanging in the hotels I stayed. And I felt proud when I saw most of them were by Indian artists. I loved Medley a lot. I have never been to an art exhibition as a special guest, this is my first and I would like to thank the organising team for inviting me to this beautiful display. Each and everyone put their heart and soul into the pieces and it feels great to see such budding talents showcasing their works. I wish to see many more such events in future from team Dexter, and it will be great if I can be a part of it again,” said footballer Syed Rahim Nabi.