NEWS
Glenfiddich Award 2014 chooses five finalists
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| ( Finalist artist Tauseef Khan with his work) |
Glenfiddich announced their five finalists for the Glenfiddich, ‘Emerging Artist of the Year 2014 Award’. The Glenfiddich Emerging Artist of the Year award is the biggest art award in India and in its third edition this year has announced the names of five finalists. The five finalists for this year’s Emerging Artist of the year 2014 are, Tauseef Khan, New Delhi, Sirivella Pragathikumar - Baroda (Vadodra), Shrimanti Saha - Baroda (Vadodra), Ravishankar - Chennai, Chetnaa Verma- Noida.
The five shortlisted artists chosen from Baroda, Chennai and New Delhi will present a group show ‘Five for the Future’ at Gallery Nature Morte, The Oberoi, Gurgaon on April 4, 2014. Chosen by a distinguished jury, one of them will be declared the winner of the coveted award.
The award has a total value of INR 10,00,000 – it includes INR 1,00,000 cash, three months residency in Scotland with a monthly stipend, materials allowance, travel, accommodation, and culminates with a solo show at Nature Morte in 2014.
Nostalgia
Rabindranath Tagore Centre, ICCR, Kolkata hosts an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and photographs by artists from Bharat Kala Kendra by 29 artists. The show is titled, ‘Nostalgia’ and displays an eclectic mix of unique artworks.
The artists participating in the show include Tapan Ghosh, Bimal Kundu, Anindiya Paul, Badal Paul, Lakshmi Shaw, R.P. Halder, Ashoke Mullick, Pradip Rakshit and Sourav Nandy.
The show is on view till 28th March 2014.
Balcao
Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi presents an exhibition of artists from Goa titled, ‘Balcao’. The show displays works by legends from Goa and the contemporary artists of today’s generation. On display at the show are select works of FN Souza with an eclectic assortment of art works by today’s Goan artists.
The show is curated by artist Subodh Kerkar and he would be presenting a talk on the history of Goa at the show. The show also brings to light Goan folk music and cuisine to delight the viewers with a complete art and cultural experience.
The show previews at 6 :00pm on 2nd April and will be on view till 15th April 2014.
The Calcutta Diaries
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| ( Work on display) |
Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai presents a solo show of photographs by eminent photographer, Pablo Bartholomew. The exhibition titled, The Calcutta Diaries’ is a selection of photographs from the archives of the photographer of his years in the mid 1970s.
The suite includes his documentation of the Haka Chinese community of South Calutta, his interaction with Satyajit Ray, during the shooting of his cult film, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, and images of his aging grandmother and distinct narratives exclusive to the City of Joy.
Born in New Delhi, 1955, Pablo Bartholomew trained as a photographer from his father Richard Bartholomew, an art critic, photographer, poet, painter and curator.
The show is on from 5th April 2014.
(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)
FEATURE
Vedanta in visuals
Jayadeva wanted to channelise his talent in painting to visually translate spiritual works
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| (Jayadeva has 41 visuals for each of the shlokas. Photo: Murali Kumar k.) |
Legend has it that the Soundaryalahari was given to Adi Shankara by God Shiva and on the way it was snatched by Nandi and torn into two halves, one of which Nandi kept. When Adi Shankara went back to Shiva and told him what happened, God asked him to write the second half, which is what is today, known as the Soundaryalahari.
The first half, comprising 41 shlokas, is considered to be the Anandalahari. The whole poem is written in praise of the Devi or the feminine primordial cosmic energy.
Hunasagahalli Jayadeva, in a first, has brought these shlokas to life by creating 41 paintings to depict each shlokha. Jayadeva then collated his paintings into a book, which he has self-published, calling it the Sri Soundaryalahari-1 Anandalahari in Visuals. Jayadeva also accompanies each shloka with a trilingual translation.
Dr.Gururaj Karajagi, Chairman, Academy for Creative Teaching, shares the story of the Soundaryalahari in his foreword for the book.
“My father was a philosopher and teacher and my childhood was filled with discussions on philosophy, from the life of Adi Shankara to the Upanishads. So when I realised I could paint, I though why not make visuals on these thoughts,” says Jayadeva, a retired art teacher. He has previously painted on sections of the Upanishads, recently exhibited at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. “The Anandalahari talks about self-realisation through the yogic chakras, in order to realise universal parenthood,” says Jayadeva.
And the universal parenthood, as he shows in the painting of the first shloka, is the union of Shiva and Shakti, primordial cosmic energies that are responsible (according to Vedic scriptures) for the creation of the universe.
The painting depicts the Indian trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva who are considered responsible for the creation, preservation and destruction (transformation) of the universe. The painting shows Brahma and Vishnu bowing down to the image of another Shiva (seen here with his consort Shakti) pouring forth blessings, while a third Shiva established seated near the trinity is shown deep in meditation. “The three figures depict the trinity in this yuga (age). After the cosmic dissolution when this world cycle ends, there will be another trinity. But Shiva-Shakti, being universal consciousness are eternal, and will once again, recreate the world. That is the meaning of the first shloka,” explains Jayadeva, who began working on the sketches in 2006 finally completing his work in 2013.
“The book is a prayer rendered to the celestial parenthood for the protection of the universe. The book also shows how anybody can become self-realised. I have tried to incorporate the main ideas of the book through the visuals for everybody to understand,” he explains.
In one of the images, of the Devi (as Sri Devi Tripurasundari), she is shown carrying a bow, arrows, a noose and a goad, as a representation of the law of karma.
“The book also signifies the importance of inner peace. Just a thought of the divine, brings mental peace. Once we are peaceful, we can then go and bring peace to others. In this philosophy it is believed that we should be able to live in the world, at the same time realise our true nature. That is the message here.”
Jayadeva is now working on a book depicting the shlokas of the second part of the Soundaryalahari.
Sri Soundaryalahari-1 Anandalahari in Visuals is available for Rs. 375 at the Sapna Book House, Gandhinagar; Vedanta Book House, Chamarajpet and Ankita Pustaka, Gandhi Bazar. For details, contact 944879750.
( Report by Harshini Vakkalanka for The Hindu)
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