Gyaan Adab hosted an evening of art and poetry of two very talented women Christine Herzer and Dipalle Parmar. Though the two women worked with the same mediums their work was distinctly different. Their engagement with the medium and audience, their identities and outlooks which shaped their work had polarities which were equally engaging.
Christine’s work which had undertones of existential and analytical philosophy reflected her love for language. She explored the intricacies and complexities of words while engaging in their representations. Her installations which were on exhibit at Gyaan Adab Centre were simple yet thought provokingly complex. They were made up of paint, tape, toasts, books, a dress and words among other things. Christine’s video ‘dear tom, letters (2012)’ played on loop in a corner of the gallery for people to individually engage with.
Dipalle’s work is aptly described by her contemporary, Menka Shivdasani, “Behind the deceptive simplicity of Dipalle’s work is a strong zest for life, a mind that constantly questions things as they are or seem. Nature is a trusted companion, and she gives herself to it in new and evocative ways. Though these poems come across as being immediately accessible to the reader, they are clearly the result of great feeling and deep thought, as she seeks the meaning of every ‘bend in the journey in her quest to keep the ‘thirst alive’.” Her paintings on display reflected a strong bond to nature and a complexity of feelings.
Christine read from her manuscript EXI[S]T A LANGUAGE while Dipalle read from her published book of poems “Not a word is heard” and a few other published poems. Management behavior trainer and teacher, Madhuri Sheth, who was present at the reading, commented on Dipalle’s poetry saying it was, “A poetry of wonderment and joy.”
Ceramic artist Ruby Jhunjhunwala who attended the program said, “Today I attended a poetry reading secession at Gyan Adab by two poets in total contrast with each other. One an Indian Dipalle, soft, intuitive and gentle. The other Christine (I think) a Belgian, defying every boundary of style, design desire and seemed torn apart with feelings. I would not want to define those feelings that her work left me with. All I feel is a bit more LIBERATED.”
Dipalle and Christine certainly gave the audience something to ponder about.
