'Ganga' - the Artistic Legacy of Yusuf Arakkal and Shibu Arakkal

 

Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation is proud to showcase ‘Ganga’ an exhibition of works by Yusuf Arakkal and his son Shibu Arakkal in two starkly contrasting mediums. The exhibition is on display at the Foundation premises, Mezzanine Level, 38 Maini Sadan, 7th Cross Lavelle Road, Bengaluru 560001 and will remain on display till 10th July 2024. 

The artistic journey explored in this series by Yusuf Arakkal and his son Shibu, is deeply intertwined with philosophical explorations and personal truths. Being present along the Ganga, a profoundly philosophical place, the artists were drawn to the river itself and to the lives of those who have spent their time navigating its waters.

Juxtaposed alongside the work of his son are the magnificent canvas creations of Yusuf Arakkal, clearly reflecting the intersection of their artistic legacies. Yusuf Arakkal, renowned for his evocative and textured paintings that delve into the human condition, was instrumental in laying the creative foundation in his son’s mind. Shibu Arakkal's engagement in photographic realism and abstraction is in stark contrast to his father’s expressional work, yet the similarity in their poetic imagery is evident.

The effort in curating an exhibition like ‘Ganga’ was to stay true to a realism that is both authentic and poetic, reflecting Yusuf Arakkal's influence and Shibu Arakkal's own artistic evolution.