Renowned artist Roy Thomas vividly recalls a warning article about climate change and its potential to submerge iconic landmarks, like the Statue of Liberty, under rising sea levels. Stirred by this looming environmental crisis, Thomas aimed to provoke awareness by confronting viewers with possible futures, depicting revered artworks submerged underwater, entwined with creeping vines.
“It’s a stark reminder of what we stand to lose,” remarked a visitor at Thomas’s exhibition, “Deep Within,” hosted at the Kalamkar Art Gallery, Bikaner House, Delhi.
The exhibition commences with a striking portrayal of the Statue of Liberty submerged deep underwater, encircled by divers—an inception point for the series, noted the Delhi-based artist. As visitors traverse the gallery, they encounter familiar sculptures from diverse time periods and continents—ranging from Michelangelo’s marble masterpiece, La Pieta, to Auguste Rodin’s contemplative bronze sculpture, The Thinker.
“These artworks stem from my concerns and the alarming reality of our swiftly changing climate due to global warming, jeopardizing humanity’s most treasured creations. We risk forgetting or losing them due to environmental decay,” shared the 57-year-old Thomas.
While Thomas drew inspiration from academic teachings in selecting artworks to paint, his creations vividly portray a fusion of past, present, and future. In his prior exhibition, “Near the Confluence” in 2019, Thomas amalgamated Varma’s compositions with renowned works of Western masters, bridging Eastern and Western artistic sensibilities.
In his ongoing exhibition, this bridging ambition expands further as Thomas juxtaposes Western masterpieces with sculptures from the Konark Sun Temple and the Ashoka Lion. Known for addressing socio-political concerns through his art, Thomas subtly weaves these themes into the current exhibition.
In a poignant corner, statues of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar are submerged underwater. “The shifts in politics and the evolving global landscape concern us all,” emphasized Thomas.
A graduate in art from the College of Art, Delhi, Thomas also portrays contemporary figures such as a Subodh Gupta skeleton, Ravindra Reddy’s head, and Jeff Koon’s rabbit. “These are iconic representations from our contemporary era,” added the artist, highlighting the layered complexity of his painting process.
The exhibition runs until November 30, inviting viewers to contemplate the depths of climate change’s impact on cherished human creations.
