Rag Rekha by Jayakrishnan Unni brings the expressions of India’s classical masters, from the concert hall to the gallery wall

As Chennai’s Margazhi play goes connected , a caller exhibition, Rag Rekha, opening connected December 26 extends the euphony beyond performance halls and onto assemblage walls. Presented by Faber-Castell and Poorvi successful relation with Saptaswara Musicals, the accumulation brings unneurotic ocular creation and classical performances successful a solemnisation that mirrors the tone of the play itself.

At the bosom of the accumulation are pencil portraits of Carnatic and Hindustani musicians, arsenic good arsenic Indian classical dancers, rendered with striking intimacy by instrumentalist and creator Jayakrishnan Unni. From Bhimsen Joshi and Bismillah Khan to CV Chandrasekhar and MS Subbulakshmi, the graphite sketches seizure these icons not successful posed stillness, but successful performance, immersed successful their creation form. 

“As musicians, we are retrospective successful nature,” says Unni. “We are perpetually successful reverence of the large masters and however they attack a raga oregon a kriti. The portraits travel from that consciousness of gratitude,” helium adds.

Unni’s instrumentality to pencil sketching came during the COVID lockdown, aft much than a decennary of moving with acrylic and oil. “My archetypal sketch was of my guru, Sangita Kalanidhi Neyveli R Santhanagopalan and Sangita Kalacharya Padmasri awardee Prof. S R Janakiraman,” helium says, of erstwhile helium reconnected with his “home medium”. Since then, sketching chap musicians has go some a idiosyncratic signifier and a mode of honouring the lineage helium belongs to. Many works showcased successful the accumulation were created to people commencement anniversaries, milestones, oregon moments of recognition. 

The accumulation is accompanied by 4 concerts implicit 3 days. The inaugural evening volition diagnostic an code by mridangam maestro Umayalpuram Sivaraman, followed by performances by vocalist Sooryagayathri and vocalist Kalyanapuram S Aravind. Concerts by Jayakrishnan Unni and vocalist Sriranjani Tapasya Santhanagopalan travel implicit the weekend. 

Together, the sketches and performances invitation viewers to look into the interior satellite of artists who person shaped India’s classical soundscape. 

Rag Rekha volition instrumentality spot from December 26 to 28 astatine CP Art Centre, Mylapore. Entry is escaped