Wednesday, June 11, 2025
WATER LILIES by Gowri Ramnarayan
Kandinsky and the Compositions - Part II
WELL... this dates back to 1939. Although started in 1938 sometime when Kandinsky was in Paris... it was a more painstaking effort and perhaps the most vibrant of all. At least definitely my favourite. Obvious isn't it? The predominating BLACK in the background and all those flying lines and curves ... it's like a MARDI GRAS IN SPACE for me! Yes, the work actually was started in 1938. But I was kidding. Wassily started it in Dec 1938 and finished in Jan 1939!
Composition 10 is the last in the series of Compositions. Sometimes am confused whether it is Comp 10 or Comp X - meaning the unnumberable one like the number 'n' in mathematics. Or is it like Mr. X? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Anyway... it is even more remarkable compared to the other Compositions because of its radical departure from fuzziness in some of the other predecessors of this discerning series.

Look at the image. You will understand. There is no hesitation. There is a certain clarity. There is absolute playfulness that had been arrived at through long obsessive hours of discerned and calculated seminal-texture to this theory of the use of color, space, lines, curves and ultimately the canvas (Read with a CAPITAL C!)
Composition X actually belongs to his late works as well. And it not only completes the Compositions series, but also connectes with later works as a link. It is less murky, more relaxed, even cheerful. And it's grammar and idiom are more formalised.Well, in a sense it is a darker painting in that everything is hovering about. Notice in the pix above the bio-morphic formations... the embryonic quality to the image segments. More a picture for joyous study to some biology student and life-science student. Biomorphic... embryonic and cell-shaped structures dominate... inspite the dark and brown-black background.This was to become the unique feature of Kandinsky's work, in retrospective analytical terms, I mean.According to Kandinsky "Black was the least expressive colour"... but on which any colour can express itself.
To quote him "Black was the least expressive colour on which every other colour, even those with the least power of expression can express more strongly, more precisely". The cheerful impression which results from the strong contrast of colours is juxtaposed against (or should I say married with) the foregrounding of more brighter colours. It is very Russian. The concentration of dark hues and scientific touch to any subject. And what of the zoomorphic and biomorphic forms? He recognised the expression of cosmic laws in the general organic nature, the processes of regeneration and new beginnings of life, which he attempted to present in pictorial form... but in his own geometric but abstract style.Composition X is the supreme example and the quintessence of Kandinsky's art.
We will next quickly take comparitive peek at his contemporary and soul-mate Oskar Schlemmer's work. That would lead us to the Bauhaus connection.
Monday, March 22, 2021
Chenai Art Theatre & Masquerade are Unlocking Theatre in Chennai
THEATRE UNLOCKED
Chennai Art Theatre (CAT) and Masquerade – the Performance Group (Chennai), two of Chennai’s popular event producing companies, come together, for the first time, to host a SPECIAL WORLD THEATRE DAY EVENT.
World Theatre Day is celebrated on MARCH 27th annually, since the 1960s, across the world in a big way. In Chennai too, city’s theatre groups have individually for the past few years celebrated MARCH 27th.
Masquerade started celebrating WORLD THEATRE DAY in the year 1997, when its Founder-Artistic Director, Dr. S. Krishna Kumar, came back from Berlin, after a stint at professional theatre in Germany, where he met international artists at a World Theatre Day celebration in 1996. Since then, Masquerade has celebrated World Theatre Day annually.
This year, Masquerade joins hands with Chennai Art Theatre, headed by A. Charles & Gowtham Ganesan, to bring SIX of city’s prominent stage drama companies on this GRAND OCCASION.
This is the largest coming together of city’s theatre groups in more than a year, since the city went into LOCKDOWN due to COVID-19.
CAT & Masquerade are UNLOCKING THEATRE back to its LIVE status. Hence THEATRE UNLOCKED.
Over 6 performances on 26th & 27th (3 performances each day, at 4 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm), 6 city groups will stage the event.
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THE SIX PLAYS AND DETAILS:
26th March – 4 pm – Naveena Koothupattarai presents BAHISHKAARA (Relegation) – in Tamil
Synopsis:
Bahishkaara (Relegation) brings together the untold stories of unsung heroes from the great Indian epic. The play seeks to unearth the tales of Duryodhana, Aravaan, Shikandi and a few other overlooked yet salient characters through music and dance.
Conceived & Directed by Aadhira Pandilakshmi & Sathish
Running Time: 45 minutes (approximately)
Tickets here: Checkout https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/bahishkaara-relegation/ET00308214
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26th March – 6 pm – Narjaya presents PASI (Hunger) – in Tamil
Synopsis:
A man, a woman and abundance of time. It’s funny, it’s scary and it’s real.
‘Pasi’ is a Tamil absurdist fiction written by Padmasri. Indira Parthasarathy, who is the only Indian writer to have won both the Sangeet Natak Academy and the Sahitya academy award. Crafted in a space supended from time, ‘Pasi’ (hunger) is a play to look forward to.
Cast: Kamatchi Kaleeswaran & Karthik Gowrisankar
Written by Indira Parthasarathy
Directed by Karthik Anantharaman
Running Time: 45 mins (approximately)
Tickets Here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/pasi-hunger/ET00308217
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26th March – 8 pm – Veshadharis present ASHWATTHAMA – in Tamil
Synopsis:
Is Ashwatthama still alive?
A delusional depiction of a meeting between Ashwathama and Parikshit the last heir Pandavas… Come and witness the battle of gratitude and grief… with a dose of contemporary overtones and satirical humour
Written by Chandrasekar Venkataraman
Directed by Sudarsun & Chandrasekar
Running Time: 45 mins (approximately)
Tickets Here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/ashwatthama/ET00308213
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27th March – 4 pm – Stagefright Productions present – COFFEE – in English
Synopsis
Three couples, three different conversations and coffee. Some humorous, some hilarious, some whacky! Sure to leave you entertained!
Title: A Love Story
Written by Rajesh Rajamani
Performed by Vinithra Madhavan Menon and Abishek Joseph George
Directed by Sandeep John
Title: Arranged
Written by Belinda Peter and Zubin Vincent
Adapted from Holidays! by Ethan Tucker
Performed by Susan Jacob and Zubin Vincent
Directed by Zubin Vincent
Title: Surprise
Directed by Deepa Nambiar
Running Time: 45 minutes (approximately)
Tickets Here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/coffee/ET00308215
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27th March – 6 pm – MASQUERADE presents G.O.M.D… (Of Gods, Girls, Graves) – in English
Synopsis:
A woman, Goddess nonetheless… A man, a grandson with a duty… and their gripes and coffin tales! Two hilarious takes on marriages, affairs, legacies!
Devised for stage / Directed by Krishna Kumar. S
Running Time: 60 minutes (approximately)
Tickets Here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/g-o-m-d-of-gods-girls-and-graves/ET00308216
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27th March – 8 pm – Theatre Arlequin presents THE HEART HAS ITS REASONS – in English
Synopsis:
Two different scenarios…two variations on the same theme ….. quest for a soul mate !!! Or is it sole mate ? Come with your funny bones… if not with a mate.
Titles:
The Language of Love : Language is essentially a tool of communication that should bring people together in an exchange of ideas. However some people use language to incite hatred or to hide the truth: politicians are masters in this. So sometimes it is necessary to invent a new language… especially for love.
The Mating Game: Since time immemorial man’s quest for a mate has involved meandering in a tortuous labyrinth of relationships and lost chances. One wrong word or a gesture can break a burgeoning romance. So what is the secret to this mating dance? Perhaps it is just the hand of destiny!
Directed by R. Amarendran
Running Time: 55 minutes (approximately)
Tickets Here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/the-heart-has-its-reasons/ET00308218
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Each of the performances would be followed by a moderated audience Interface with the Director/Production Company (if the company is open to it!)
For further details, buzz me (KK) at 9884029865 & A.Charles at 9841495497
Thursday, March 26, 2020
World Theatre Day 2020
Coming Soon @ Masquerade, Chennai

Genre: Any that you may choose
Duration : 1 to 10+ minutes (not exceeding 12 please)
Language : Tamil, English or Mime preferably (but any that you may choose)
YOU CAN EVEN PARTICIPATE AS A DUO OR GROUP SO LONG AS YOU’RE ON SAME SCREEN AND HANDLE