Why do certain artists such as Anjolie Ela Menon or Jehangir Sabavala sell for more than the others, or command more respect amongst the buyers and critics, has always been a matter of speculation amongst the cognoscenti. Amongst the very many other imponderables such as personal charisma or networking and the like, is
the quantifiable ‘painterly quality’ that sets apart an artist’s body of work. Anjolie Ela Menon demonstrates this amply in the show Through the
Patina that marks her 70th
anniversary.
The technique, composition, colours and forms, that are the bedrock or the grammar of all good art, are flawless. The paintings compel one’s attention because of their inherent luminescence and translucence which imparts an enduring impression. This classical feel is partly due to the meticulous technique and materials used, for much of work is done in Oil on masonite, especially the smaller paintings, which imparts delicate finish and fresh colours.
Though she is known mainly as a figurative painter, the current show is comprehensive. The works displayed showcase her oeuvre with portraits, nudes, mythologies, and landscapes. In fact, the artist avers that with a country so full of people and human relationships, can one be other than a figurative painter? Within this opus, it is her works based on mythology, legend and tradition, such as the Devi and Draupadi that leave a powerful impression. The privileging of Arjuna amongst her five husbands by Draupadi, through popular symbology along with the strong colours, comes across as rather appealing.
However, it is the internal and external landscapes that stand out, though here also one experiences human presence in the detritus left behind: in the swings, the benches, lines and the like, as if someone has just left the space being depicted in the canvas.
There is a certain imagined history and poignancy of memory in such delineation. In all her work, see certain unseen histories, narratives and journeys through the human agency. The works of the artist while strong on traditional aesthetics and painterly qualities do not provoke or disturb the viewer or elicit any strong confrontational counter reaction.
— The writer is an art historian, curator and critic