Mixed media abstracts

Journey Through the Dark reads the legend on the cover of the brochure of Behram Rana’s recent exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery from November 5 to 11, 2012. It features the artist himself against a backdrop of one of his current works, the play of light and shade revealing barely half his visage. Moving away from the figurative genre that had characterized his earlier works, Rana has created abstracts in mixed media on plywood for his 10th solo exhibition. Largely monochromatic, the brown works are detailed with sweeping strokes in contrasting colors mimicking the natural grain in wood.
Rana, who has been exhibiting since 1983, has mounted several solo and participated in group shows as well. An alumnus of the J. J. Institute of Arts, he obtained a certificate in Applied Arts (Commercial Arts) after four years of study. At first specializing in window displays, he later moved to advertising. During his stint with engineering giant Larsen and Toubro Limited Rana worked as visualizer in their advertising department, designing and executing corporate campaigns, print productions of annual reports, brochures, exhibitions and outdoor publicity. He also directed photography for high level corporate executives, mentions his website, www.behramrana.com
After his retirement in 2001 Rana has channeled all his creative energies to painting. The resident of Malcolm Baug in Jogeshwari, who completed 70 years on December 19, is into modeling and acting. He has a passion for writing short poems, taking creative pictures, listening to jazz music and watching good movies. The painter lives with his teacher wife Zarine and son Rushad, a film and television actor. He may be contacted on mob: 9820185212; email: art@behramrana.com or behramrana@hotmail.com