A group of nine young artists, all alumni of the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai, have formed a collective called Continuum and will present their first exhibition, 'Between Becoming & Being,' starting May 15 at Lalit Kala Akademi. Initiated by artist couple Preethi Umapathy and Prithiviraj, the show features works in painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics by Deepika, Ganesh, Jagath Ravi, Padmapriya, Prithiviraj, Preethi, Ramesh, Saran Mathi, and Sarath Kumar, exploring themes of identity, aspiration, human existence, and lived experiences.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the vibrant grassroots art scene in Chennai, where working professionals continue to pursue their artistic practices outside of commercial pressures. The collective's focus on personal and philosophical themes—such as Prithiviraj's use of Tamil script as a visual language to explore forgiveness and revenge—demonstrates how regional art communities are fostering meaningful dialogues about human experience, while providing a platform for emerging artists to take their first steps toward broader recognition.