Bartolome Sanchez’s solo show of “artistic” works has been revitalising the contemporary art scene. Nearly 60 art works on view at Dhoomi Mal Gallery speak of a new chapter on art. They widen the viewer’s curiosity, whet his hunger and leave him aesthetically satisfied.

The stress is on icons, for the artist seems to be more sensitive to design. See his “college” and tell if the artist has painted a form or pasted a piece. The creation have to be viewed microscopically. The lens, of course, has to be aesthetic! The works are as beautiful as paintings as in any other medium.

“Sign for me is more important than visible or real form,” says Bartus. He tries to capture in his icons even the smallest particle floating in the air. His art in outlook and exposition is as modern as space technology.

The Bartus works are nothing short of masterpieces. The icons cum collages in yellow, pink, black, blue and grey characterise his approach to art.

“But Fight”, for instance, shows two bulls transplanted in a triangular confrontation. Spray is used with a superb sensitivity that separates the pasted forms from the rest of the composition. The result is simply fantastic.

In one of the works fish and a ship are so related as to form a poetic configuration The littler bubbles coming out of the water are interpreted in a French lyric a – eteigne sans … bryts … The ship makes the same noise as the fish.

Another interesting work is “Day and Night”. Many times computer forms have been implanted in the works.

The Bartus series is a four-year-old effort in iconography. Art is his first love. He also writes poetry, scripts for plays and makes photo-compositions. In the art world, Bartus is as well known as famous artists like Lamberto Pignotti, Ernst Lens and Fanna Roncoroni. Bartus has exhibited along with them in Rome and other places.

Bartus is a self-taught artist. At present he is Charge d’airffs in the Venezuelan Embassy. “India as a whole is the best cultural teacher,” Bartolome Sanchez.

The diplomat’s full name is Bartolome Sanchez. But he likes to be known and is known as Bartus in the art world.

On view till September 5.

By Vijay Bhushan
National Herald, August 30, 1982.
New Delhi, India.