Artist Simran Lamba's works have been created using molten coal tar

Here is an art exhibition with a twist. And an artist who does things differently. Meet Simran Lamba, a 27-year-old Delhiite, whose works will be on display at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre.

Lamba has used mixed media to create his line of paintings. Even more unusual is the fact that he has used things like molten coal tar, lead, wax, glass, nails and just about an entire gamut of things to put together the works. What's more, the canvases are all three dimensional.

So what lead him to use such unusual items in his work? "I began experimenting long time back and have always tried my hand at a lot of things," he says. The artist would know, for he has dabbled in a lot of things other than art, like films for instance. In fact, post-Genesis, Lamba plans to get back to the world of films and will be assisting director Anand Subbakumaran on his next project Chikotee. This, however, is not a first-time attempt, as Lamba has earlier done short films.

The idea of working with molten tar struck the artist when he was renovating his place. "I saw some newspaper sheets which were drenched in coal tar and thought may be I could work with it," he says. So he began experimenting and slowly things took shape.

For instance, for this exhibition, he has made an entire road on one piece of canvas and made a collage around it. "Each piece is textured and handcrafted. Every layer is treated and retreated with different elements," he says.

Lamba next plans to show at the Jehangir Art Gallery in October for which he will be adding some more pieces to the collection.

At: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
On till: August 1
Timings: 10am to 8pm.

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