‘Perfect’: Method’s Minimal Celebration of Independent Art
Moving away from the traditional style of art and painting, Method’s exhibition on perfection perfectly encapsulates the imperfect nature of being.
In the absence of light from its very being, the colour black stands as the epitome of everything mysterious. And when mystery is attached to something- be it a story, a painting, an act or a game- the need of ornamentation automatically subsides. With all the decoration and beautification tuned down to a near nothing, that nothing begins to represent the other side of the spectrum- the minimal. It is with this minimalistic approach that Mumbai’s newest independent art gallery, Method, showcased a range of artwork that is taking a steep turn away from the traditional style.
Sahil Arora makes sure that every artist uses the walls of Method to represent their work. These artists who are somewhere between that first gallery and maybe a national award have the freedom to utilize this space in their own independent manner. Speaking with the Hindu, Sahil mentioned, “We will give our artists the freedom to use the walls, the outer door of the gallery and even the staircase as part of the exhibit.” That is precisely what happened at Method’s first show, ‘Perfect’, an ingenious solo collective put together by Mumbai-based artist, Aniruddh Mehta.
Aniruddh needs no introduction, especially after the striking logo of India’s biggest Netflix show, ‘Sacred Games’, which has clearly reflected his inclination towards basic geometric shapes. Keeping up with the same idea, Aniruddh’s abstract representation smeared in black adorned the walls of Method. In what is his first solo exhibition, ‘Perfect’ stood for everything that is not perfect and while you gaze at the swirling black lines or the conical black figures, your imagination takes just the plight the artist would want it to take.
In his conversation with Mid-Day, Anirudh explained, “The name comes from the idea of imperfection and questioning what perfection really is. I work a lot with symmetry, making sure everything is pencil perfect, at the right angles. With this, I broke those rules and embraced the abstraction that comes when you stop and let things go, even when there are mistakes.”
While ‘Perfect’ is open until August 11, Method’s upcoming show will be an immersive fashion exhibit put together by the slow-fashion brand, Gundi that aims at empowering Desi women through fashion, art and supply chain. Gundi will be on display from August 26 to September 1 at Method.
