"George Oommen: Visions of Kerala"
2005-09-01 until 2005-10-01
Locco Ritoro Gallery
Boston, MA, USA United States

George Oommen is pleased to announce two concurrent showings of his work in September 2005. George Oommen: Visions of Kerala opens at the Locco Ritoro Gallery on September 1. This exhibit will feature both large and small-scale paintings inspired by the artist’s homeland in India. Oommen’s newest series, Kanjeevaram, will be featured for the first time. The classic Southern-Indian bridal saris known for their bold, bright color inspire these new works.

Across the Charles River, in Harvard Square, George Oommen: Sacred Places will be on view until October 12. These paintings echo an earlier series called, The Sacred Places Within You. These color-field works, created with muted, numinous hues, pose the question, “where does the inner sanctuary reside? Each painting has a bright and luminous spot, or small area, that stands out against the surface of the picture plane. The area becomes a focal point, created through color and composition, where the viewer’s eye naturally comes to rest. Individually, and collectively, these works encourage the viewer to reflect on his or her own spirituality.

Born in Munnar, Kerala, India, and educated in India, Mexico, and the United States, George Oommen continues to derive artistic inspiration from the lush green landscapes of his homeland. Every winter, Oommen visits Mankotta, a small island in the inland waters of Kerala in southwestern India, ten miles from Oommen’s ancestral home. The weeks spent there fuel his painting year round.

Locco Ritoro Gallery is the brainchild of Paul Lam. This new gallery opened in November of 2004 at 450 Harrison Avenue in the South End of Boston. With 19 other galleries in the same building, hundreds of visitors attend their monthly Friday evening opening receptions. However, Lam plans on promoting more than just visual arthe will include live music and other hip events (think fashion shows) to create a total cultural destination.

George Oommen has been a Premiere Portfolio at absolutearts.com since 2004. View more of his work at: www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/g/georgeoommen/.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Massachusetts

Other Important Exhibitions in United States