Dawn by Anant Mishra is paired in tandem with Sheaves of Wheat by Vincent Van Gogh and is a wonderful reference to the elevation of the surroundings each artist situated themselves in. Anant Mishra often deals with the exploration of the human psyche, the condition of society and the progression of the human race, and Van Gogh in contrast deals with the ecstatic beauty of nature and the ‘plein air’ in which he created. They both seem to collide in a rather mesmerizing way through tone and the representation of form - however differ greatly in terms of the overall concept. While the works here both describe hills, the hill in Van Gogh’s work is light and fluffy; a hay mound. Anant on the other hand coats his hills in mango yellow, solidifying their earthen presence while creating a rather intriguing golden effect. While the paintings give out an essence of golden tone, their similarities are more through the technical than through the conceptual. Here, Anant constructs a strange sense of utopia and Van Gogh grounds the viewer in the present moment, in the ‘utopia’ that he already sees. The thread between the works is exquisite, light and yet not too overt - as they both traverse the depths of the mediums chosen alongside the concepts rendered. The intriguing aspect remains the silent thread of visual understanding that runs between them - offering glimpses into a euphoria that is both hidden and plain to see. Anant may describe a city that extols a utopian order, possibly in the future, Van Gogh sees it and describes it in the now, offering us a moment of respite against the troubles of the present. Both artists uncannily capture the element of hope in their rendition of this golden aura, offering a chance of redemption against a relentless reality.
