WASHINGTON, DC— Noted Washington, DC-based artist Anil Revri creates contemplative images that allude to the spiritual. His geometric abstractions encourage introspection by drawing the viewer into the "void" represented by negative space. To achieve this, the artist uses a variation of dotted, curved and oblique lines which help create the illusion of three-dimensional space. On view at the Corcoran from June 5 through September 13, 2004, In Search of Self: Paintings and Drawings by Anil Revri – a retrospective – continues Revri's long association with the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
"Though abstract in their rendering, the work is inspired by Eastern philosophy. Each piece becomes a meditation," comments Revri. "There is no reference to narrative here, excepting that of an implied order beneath the restless surface. That surface tension acts as a metaphor for the clutter in our lives that prevents us from achieving that calm that we so desire."
Featuring approximately 50 paintings, drawings and works on paper, In Search of Self presents work created between 1996 and 2004. Revri uses metallic paints, markers and pencils to create a grid; the result is a vibrant window within a window format with different planes that seem to move in and out of each other depending on the viewer's relation to the work. In the Cultural Crossings series of drawings, the artist incorporates calligraphy and script in different languages from sacred texts and holy writings that address universal human concerns.
"Anil Revri's elegant and subtle geometric abstractions are visual poems that induce contemplation. At once sensual and serene, they resonate in the inner and outer worlds of the viewers," adds Eric Denker, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Corcoran. "The viewer consistently marvels at the complex beauty and deep feeling of Revri's works as well as admires his dedication to his craft and to the time involved in their creation."
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in 1956 in New Delhi, India, Anil Revri held his debut exhibition in 1976 during his final year at Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay, where he earned a degree in interior design. He began drawing at the age of three and as a young man developed an elaborate and intense graphic style that is still evident in his work today. Revri has had a long and rich association with the Corcoran; he received his BFA in graphic design from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in 1995 and he was included in the exhibition Lichtenstein and Beyond: Recent Acquisitions of Modern Prints (2001), as well as several Corcoran alumni shows. Revri has had numerous solo and group shows in India, Europe and the United States. His work is featured in collections worldwide including the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress. Revri lives and works in Washington, DC.
EXHIBITION ORGANIZATION
In Search of Self: Paintings and Drawings by Anil Revri is organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
ABOUT THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
A privately funded institution, the Corcoran Gallery of Art was founded in 1869 as Washington's first museum of art. It is known internationally for its distinguished collection of historical and modern American art as well as European painting, sculpture, photography and decorative arts. Founded in 1890, Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington's only 4-year college of art and design offering BFA degrees in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Photojournalism and Photography—and AFA degrees in Fine Arts, Interior Design and Photography. The College's Continuing Education Program, which offers part-time credit and non-credit classes for children and adults, draws more than 3,500 participants each year.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at New York Avenue and 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC, and is open every day, except Tuesday, 10 am – 5 pm, and until 9 pm on Thursdays. The Corcoran is closed every Tuesday. Admission to the Corcoran is: $5 for adults; $4 for seniors; $10 for families; $3 for students ages 13-18 and member guests. The public information line for the museum is (202) 639-1700. The information line for the college is (202) 639-1800. The Corcoran Web site address is www.corcoran.org.
