A trip down memory lane

CHENNAI: With the advent of technology, all of us seem to have conveniently forgotten the utility of a phone or a radio. However, Subir Dey’s 23 paintings that grace the walls at the Vinnyasa gallery, are sure to make you think about your good old days. Most people in their thirties grew up listening to songs on radios and making calls on telephones. Little did such people know then that they would someday grow out of it and completely forget it.Subir has brilliantly captured the essence of childhood in his paintings, made using water colours. He has used shades of orange and yellow to depict the positivity of his times. He has  also beautifully used old, out-dated elements such as the telephone, old wall clocks, old fashioned cars, grand piano and gramophone to help his viewers relive their childhood memories.Also, because he is deeply inspired by the village fairs, the paper flutes and images through bioscopes – he has used a lot of other colours which make his work more visually appealing and  engaging. He carefully connects the old with the new, pairs up history with modern times and merges both progress  and tradition – and all of this, in a single frame.Speaking on his current theme ‘Nostalgia’, the thirty-year-old artist, says “Through my paintings, I want people to recognise the values we have left behind. I want them to think about their childhood, at least once, when they  glimpse through my work. It’s really sad how we have almost forgotten our childhood, the tradition and culture we grew up in. ‘Nostalgia’ is just an attempt to revive the days well spent.”When asked, if he had ever considered selling his works, he said, “One needs to be honest about his/her work. Only then does the aspect of commercialising art come into the picture.” The exhibition is on at the Vinnyasa Premier Art Galery till November 12.