Artist CR Dash’s artworks on display at Odisha Modern Art Gallery in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: Sketches and portraits that represent various aspects of life have been exhibited at the Odisha Modern Art Gallery in the city.

Amateur artist C.R. Dash has tried to give shape to his ideas in the exhibition titled Reflective Mood.

Dash, who teaches grammar to high school students, was inclined towards art since childhood. The self-taught artist has showcased his works created over the years.

Nearly 50 of his sketches and artworks, mostly in mixed media using pen, crayon, pencil and hints of watercolour, give viewers a perspective of philosophy, politics and more.

One of the segments of the exhibition is dedicated to litterateurs such as William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore, Fakir Mohan Senapati and many others. These are portraits with a touch of colour.

In another section, one finds a series of drawings and paintings that try to capture the expressions of people in villages and sceneries from rural areas. In another segment are cartoons by Dash, in which he has attempted to create political satire and humour.

“I have tried to include a variety of subjects such as landscapes, scenery, political as well as social issues. I have created these artworks whenever I got time from teaching. Despite my wish to pursue art as a subject, my situation never allowed it. I want to get more inspiration and encouragement through the exhibition,” said Dash. Viewers also appreciated the artist’s works.

“Expressing one’s ideas through art is definitely not easy and more so if there is no training. Dash’s work are a proof of the effort that he has given despite not being trained,” said Tarakant Parida, artist and the supervisor of the Odisha Modern Art Gallery.

Last year Dash has also published his collection of short stories — If Winter Comes.

“Apart from creating more artworks, I am also working on a book Love Is Not Time’s Fool. It is scheduled to be published this year,” said Dash.

The exhibition that was inaugurated by eminent artist Chandramani Biswal on September 9 is on till September 15.