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Canvas, fabric in new genre of art

For an experiment that started off as an extension of two designers' hobby, the combination of high-profile art and fashion looks quite pleasing. A rare sight in an age when art is strictly classified, designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna brought together 42 top-line artists and got them to create works using the 21 colours they felt would rule fashion this year.

Based on those works, the duo crafted 13 garments that reflected the colours used by as many artists and their signature designs.

"Palette 2001", that concluded recently at Visual Arts Gallery in New Delhi after a six-day showing, has gone down well with most people, Khanna told UNI.

The two designers now plan to showcase their profession and hobby under the same roof. A new section stocking both paintings and fabric is set to start in their Mehrauli showroom.

Most of the works have been created this year and the artists chose among the 21 "Colours of 2001" suggested by the designers. "We suggested colours ranging from red to emerald green to blue to black. The colour specification ensured that artists ended up painting in colours they did not normally use," Khanna said.

Maybe that's why, Thota Vaikuntam, who sketches women from his native Telengana using reds, yellows and blacks filled with a profusion of dots, chose purple for a canvas.

Most of the dresses were, however, removed after the inauguration as the venue was meant to display only paintings.

Vaikuntam's paintings were accompanied by a bindi-decked costume. A painting of S.H. Raza, who dabbles in geometrical figures, had a matching outfit sporting multi-coloured circles.

The costumes had clean cuts, but were not wearable. Which was why they were not marked for sale. M.F. Husain, Yusuf Arakal and Anjolie Ela Menon participated.