What lurks inside a piece of wood? Jeram Patel and Tarik Currimbhoy answered this question in their own distinctive styles. Inspired by the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban, the modernist Jeram Patel attacked the wood with a blowtorch until it revealed the art hidden inside. He was particularly fascinated by the colour black, whether created by scorching the wooden surface or painting with black ink, because he believed it helped other colours to appear stronger. Though it is simple plywood, each artwork has its own story to tell. Tarik Currimbhoy on the other hand used his blowtorch on solid wood, more subtly. First the flames reveal the grains within the wood, and then coatings of shellac enhance the contrasts within it. Perhaps his background in architecture drives the dynamism and sensuality that we see as core tenets of his work.
Two artists with two different styles brought together at Painting with Fire, our latest exhibition featuring 15 select artworks from Jeram Patel and Tarik Currimbhoy. The artworks invite you to explore the space through movement and shifting perspectives, and a theatrical play of colour.
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