Published: November 2024 (12 months ago) in issue Nº 424
Keywords: Group exhibitions, Pavilion of Tibetan Culture, Auroville Art Service, CREEVA (Centre for Research, Education and Experience in the Visual Arts) and Artists
References: Anwar Khan, Marie-Claire Barsotti and Charu
Diversity in Expression

Jejune by Anwar Khan G
This exhibition gathers an eclectic mix of artworks that embrace a wide range of techniques, styles, and moods, offering viewers a sensory experience that is complex and inviting. At first glance, the variety might seem overwhelming, yet the exhibition manages to weave these distinct voices into a form of artistic coexistence.
The textures in the room catch your attention immediately – thick layers of paint in some pieces seem to ripple off the canvas, while other works are so delicate they almost dissolve into the walls. One artist experiments with mixed media, combining torn papers with acrylics, creating a tactile patchwork of memory. Another offers introspective green landscapes, leaving just enough space for the viewer’s imagination to fill in the blanks. There are also splashes of colour that seem to almost take over the room – bold reds and yellows clashing on the canvas – standing alongside pieces that work with muted tones, evoking a sense of stillness. The tension between these extremes invites you to oscillate between stimulation and contemplation.
The range of artistic styles on display reflects a deep engagement with both personal expression and collective identity. The variety of brushstrokes, media, and subject matter could easily clash, but here they coexist in a way that feels organic. No single artistic approach dominates. It’s as if the artists are participating in a shared dialogue about what it means to express something authentically.
Wandering through the exhibition also feels like moving through different emotional states – exhilaration, serenity, confusion, joy – and yet there is a sense of continuity in how the works are arranged. It’s not a rigid order, but an intuitive flow, as if the artworks are talking to each other across the room. The way one piece’s jagged edges catch the corner of your eye as you turn toward the softness of another creates a rhythm, a pulse that keeps the viewer engaged.
At its core, Diversity in Expression transforms the gallery into a space for connection, where differences are not barriers but bridges. It invites visitors to embrace contradictions and engage with unfamiliar perspectives. Each piece asks us to linger, look closer, and open ourselves to new ways of seeing – ultimately reminding us that, like the art on display, we are all part of a larger, interconnected whole.