Myriad Paintings, Prints depicting student life

Student life is like a rainy day, says Jaydeep R.S., who feels that as soon as that phase passes it makes things appear fresh, green, clear and shiny. And it is this reality that is the focus of the young artist’s prints and paintings.

Jaydeep first joined the Thiruvananthapuram College of Fine Arts, before coming to the MSU Faculty of Fine Arts, to learn printing.

As a young lad Jaydeep always thought that knowledge lay beyond the range of hills that surrounded his village in Kerala.

‘This is even noticed in his works where a symmetrical triangle on the top usually has a prominent presence.

From his works it is difficult to say whether the artist forms his thoughts from this particular point, or his thought process ends here, but these range of hills remain the fulfilling point in Jaydeep’s works.

Jaydeep also believes that the frame of his paintings and prints is a door through which his experiences enter the medium to get imprinted there. Saying so the artist points out his earlier works where the predominant emotion is hope, showing a lad trying to capture the reflection of a raindrop in a mirror.

This etching print titled "The Fortune Teller" comprises a pre-monsoon atmosphere, where rain symbolises hopes and a young man in the corner symbolises the new knowledge. Also there is a young man near a range of the hills carrying a banana leaf, Jaydeep explains this as a memory, a character of his village. Apart from the rural areas, Jaydeep’s works also reflect his own life in various stages. First the artist leaving his village and then Kerala.

Even now he tries to shake off the elements introduced to him by the radical group of Thiruvananthapuram. Like for him vehicle always meant ‘boats’,

His other print "House of Sentiments" depicts a house with four windows, each showing casting symbols. His water colour paintings "The passed monsoon" shows a young man sitting amidst flora and fauna with droplets of rain. Closer inspection reveals he is bare with a tusk in his hand. Just like Ganesha whose existence depended on the elephant head.

It is interesting to note the constant changes in Jaydeep’s works. Though not manifested in a narrative manner, the do provide a metaphor of being disclosed to the viewer. Jaydeep’s constant changes depict his emotions with sensitivity. The exhibition is on at the Contemporary Ar Gallery till October 1.

Compiled from local news media