The show titled The Unknown City at the Ailamma Art Gallery, amalgamates around 44 works rendered by Srinivas. A postgraduate in fine arts from MMK College, Gulbarga, through his present series of work, Srinivas describes the ambiguity that resides within the grand looking, robust walls of multi-storeyed buildings. Srinivas tells about his journey, “To be an artist, I travelled away from the small untouched world of my village to the bigger world; the city, which was unknown to me at that time and completely in contrast to my rural roots and connections. I am fascinated by the city life even after spending so many years within its realms.”
The semi abstract works are planned on a rich textural surface. Coarse and intriguing the many fragmented sections embedded within the composition are highlighted with a vibrant and effervescent colour palette. The cityscapes look bright on the façade and yet the absence of flora, fauna and human beings cannot be missed. The concrete, mammoth clusters of constructions and architectural structures seem to be in the process of evolving or reaching a final state. The real and abstract visual aspects are woven together seamlessly. The netted multiple lines, criss-crossing grids, fit into each other like parts of a jigsaw puzzle and are composed in the space as a singular large form. The surrounding space is ambiguously painted in a flat tone that holds and controls the central form from all sides.
Talking further about his work and sources of inspirations he tells, “Travelling and conversations with all kinds of people accelerates and enhances my concepts for expressions.” Srinivas has been working as a lecturer at Sri Venkateshwara College of Fine Arts for the last one decade, he tells about his experience, “Teaching too supports my creative endeavours and helps me to refresh my perspectives and strengths. Close association with students is truly a learning experience. Every day I discuss with the students about drawing, perspective, form and colour and with each discussion I learn something new. I believe that my students are my teacher.”
