Painternet Collection Show, The Meaning of Return and more..

NEWS

Painternet Collection Show

( Works on display)

India’s 1st Online Art Gallery Painternet.com is all geared up to showcase its 3 decade collection of Master artists such as Hebbar, Vaikuntam, Madhvi Parekh amongst others at the Hirji Jehangir Art Gallery. This is also accompanied by the evocative work of Mr. Prashant Shah that brings alive the ancient and sacred tradition of Jain Heritage. 

It is an initiative to identify with the range of artists they have across different genres, the work and their humble stories. Painternet.com intends to design a creative interaction between artists, collectors, enthusiasts, critics and investors and create an ambiance that connects art to many hearts!

The show is on view from 19th March to 24th March 2014.

The Meaning of Return

( Work on display)

Mumbai Art Room presents a solo show of art work by artist Scott Myles. The show is titled, ‘The Meaning of Return’ and is curated by curator, Zasha Colah. The show presents a suite of prints made directly onto the walls of the Mumbai Art Room, which will be whitewashed away at the end of the exhibition, depicts an array of sculptural objects laid out across an expansive floor. 

In the current presentation by Scott Myles, (born 1975 in Dundee, Scotland) the public space of the gallery is likened to a ballet studio, a space of private performative gestures - like the artistic studio - for rehearsal, and trial. In the ballet studio, dancers were replaced with sculptures, composed of found objects like a wheelchair, or the wheels of a swivel-chair, and parts he fabricated himself to form his choreography of anthropomorphic performers in the space. The barres running horizontally may be read as a kind of horizon line, a bar for support and a line of stability, within a space of unlimited choreographic possibility for movement. 

The show is on view till 30th April 2014.

Living in Our Times

Open Palm Court Gallery, New Delhi presents a solo exhibition by Asmita Rajiv.  Asmita Rajiv, an International award-winning artist, focuses on depicting the stories of people, thereby transporting viewers from their comfort zones into a contemplative frame of mind. 

In her current series of paintings, titled, ‘Living In Our times’ she has brought on canvas the pains, triumphs, struggles, aspirations, joys and sorrows of common men and women in the urban space, thereby unraveling the poignant issues plaguing humankind. Her paintings have elements of symbolism, and each painting is accompanied by a poem that describes the story behind the painting.

The show is on view from 17th March to 21st March 2014.

Ode to the Monumental

(Workby Laxma Goud)

Hirji Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and for the first time Saffronart, will treat Mumbai’s art aficionados to a group show dedicated to large scale,  life-size sculptural tableaus, paintings 25 ft tall and a 45 ft high video installation by the stalwarts of modern and contemporary Indian art.

The show ‘Ode to the Monumental:Celebration.Visuality.Ideology’ will feature canvas, sculpture and installation works by artists such as Jogen Chowdhury, KG Subramanyan, Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, Anandajit Ray, Jagannath Panda, Nataraj Sharma, Thota Vaikuntam, Satish Gujral and Laxma Goud, among others.

The show is on view till 18th March 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Art in a nut shell

Saleem creates art from coconut shells

( Saleem; photo by Athira M)

On a hot afternoon on Eve’s beach, Kovalam, Saleem is busy working, polishing a coconut shell to perfection. Waiting patiently and conversing with him in English is Jarnne, a French tourist. Saleem is all ears and carries on the conversation in English, even as he tries to cut the coconut shell into small pieces. Apparently, Jarnne wants him to make a pendant for her chain. “He is very good…,” says Jarnne, who had met Saleem during one of her earlier visits to the beach.

As another tourist season is about to get over, Saleem is among the many craftsmen on the beach who will take to the sea to make a living. He is a well-known figure on the beach, thanks to his craftsmanship in making strikingly aesthetic curios and jewellery from coconut shell. “I have been doing this for 15 years,” says Saleem, who hails from Kovalam itself.

In fact, the self-taught craftsman is a fisherman who goes fishing in the sea off Kovalam once the tourist season gets over. “I was 35 when I first began experimenting with coconut shells. I just felt that I could make something out of this. Candle stands, ash trays and finger rings filled my home. A few tourists happened to see the products and were impressed by my work. They encouraged me to make more products. Gradually it became a source of income during the tourist season,” he says.

Now at 52, he seems to have got quite a good clientele. “People buy the products because they know it is handmade,” he says.

However, he doesn’t market the products through any outlets. “I prefer to work like this, taking my own time to finish each item. I don’t think I will be able to meet the deadline if I take orders from shops or other places,” he says.

He makes delicate containers with filigree-like work, candle stands, flower vases, pendants, bangles and the like. One of his standout pieces is a metal container adorned with finely crafted coconut shells on them. “I buy a regular metal tin. Coconut shells are cut into square shaped pieces and stuck to the tin. Sometimes I make a small hole on each piece which is then filled with small pieces of the shell of tender coconut. These containers can be used to keep anything, be it tea dust, coffee powder, trinkets, jewellery…,” he says.

Axo blade, sand paper and saw are used to make the products. The craft is something that Saleem holds close to his heart, so much so that he doesn’t allow us to take photograph of his products. “They are exclusive…,” he says with a smile.

Saleem also takes tourists for a ride on his catamaran. “I have got the licence issued by the Port Office. I, along with my partner, take two tourists at a time for the ride,” he says.

The father of four has studied till class nine. But he can speak English and Tamil quite well. 

( Report by Athira M for The Hindu)

Serigraphs, Songs of Spring and more..

NEWS

Serigraphs

The Viewing Room, Mumbai presents the exquisite serigraphs of three renowned artists. The show titled, ‘Serigraphs’ displays the works of three artists who have contributed to the Indian art scene over the years. The artists are Jehangir Sabavala, Ram Kumar and Sakti Burman. 

The show previews on 13th March and is on view till 29th March 2014.

Facebook of Reclaimed Identities

Open Palm Court Art Gallery, New Delhi presents a solo show titled, ‘Facebook of Reclaimed Identities’. The show displays the art works of eminent artist Puja Kshatriya.
The show features distinct styled portraits of people the artist has been inspired by creating an intense archiving of human faces.

The show is to be inaugurated by Michael Heinz, Director, Austrian Cultural forum and previews on 25th March at 5:30 pm. 

The show is on view till 27th March 2014.

Songs of Spring

Kynkyny Art Gallery, Bangalore presents a show titled, ‘Songs of Spring’ a solo show of art works by artist Dhrubajyoti Baral. Dhrubajyoti's lilting, colour-soaked tempera dreamscapes, alive with birds, trees and animals, conjure the lush abundance of nature in full bloom. His trademark lovers embody the fevered enchantment, longing and intoxication that the season ushers in. 

The show previews on 15th March 2014 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and the show continues to be on view till 27th March 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

State of affairs

B.D. Dethan’s painting exhibition, ‘Avastha’, is a dispassionate look at the deterioration of society

(Artist B.D. Dethan with his works. Photo by S. Gopakumar)

A glass filled with liquid has a disembodied human face floating at the bottom, while psychedelic shapes frolic in the background. The spires of a monument rise high above a city skyline, only to emphasise the large arms and face of a forlorn looking entity captured between them. These are examples of the imagery that currently adorn the walls of the Suryakanti Art Gallery at Sasthamangalam, where an exhibition of artist B.D. Dethan’s works is underway.

Dethan explains that the series, titled ‘Avastha’, is a reflection of his emotions related to the times we live in. “Society is at a point where basic values such as kindness and compassion are hard to come by. Open a newspaper or switch on the television and most of the things we see are appalling. It is this frame of mind that gave birth to this series, and while I have tried to keep my emotions and work separate, some things do seep through,” he says, pointing out the many vices he has depicted on canvas. The face in the glass is his take on the effects of alcoholism.

Other images border on the abstract as half-formed human shapes merge with those of animals and human vanity is represented through a clown-like visage that peeps out through a frame.

Dethan’s disdain for the trend of elevating men to the status of gods is evident in yet another work, while a museum exhibit of busts and remnants of civilisations is accompanied by his thoughts on time and culture. “We have seen many cultures come and go, and eventually this is all that is left,” he says indicating the painting, “it is meant to remind us that everything in the world perishes eventually, except time, which is the only constant.”

From civilisations to the present day, he makes an interesting observation on people’s reliance on medicines. “We are in a situation where we are often forced to take medicines and then suffer the side effects in some form. It is not something we can entirely avoid but not something that is particularly good either.” The work in question shows a human foot poised to crush a bottle of pills, deterred by a razor sharp blade waiting above the bottle, promising retribution.

Dethan goes on to elaborate his views on art in general. “I don’t believe painting is just a fine art anymore. Take the example of Picasso, where he fused cycle parts together to create art,” he says, referring to the Spanish artist’s ‘Bull’s Head’ artwork, where he represented the face and horns of a bull using a bicycle seat and handlebars. “The creative vision that led him to see that work where others saw just a jumble of cycle parts, that is what is paramount in an artist. Paint and canvas are no longer the only medium to express one’s vision.”

The exhibition is on at the Suryakanti Art Gallery till March 31. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. except on Sundays.

(Report by Sooraj Rajmohan for The Hindu)

A Tree in my backyard, The Nanyang Spirit, India Song and more..

NEWS

A Time to Dream

Apparao Galleries, presents a show titled, ‘A Time to Dream’ at the Sandy’s, Chennai. the show focuses on the works of two artists,  Farhan Mujib and Pradeep Nerurkar, inviting the viewer to ponder on the concept and power of dreams. 

Dreams have been the precursors and answers to many a problems, also as inspirations to artists, writers, philosophers and thinkers for centuries. The show encourages the viewer to delve deep within themselves and find out what their dreams have presented to them individually.

The show is on view from 13th March to 14th May 2014.

India Song

( Work byKaren Knorr)

Piramal Gallery of National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai presents British photographer Karen Knorr’s four-year-long Deutsche Börse Photography Prize nominated ‘India Song’ at the new Tasveer show. It features images from Rajput traditions, taking inspiration from the cultural and wildlife heritage of India besides fables from Panchatantra, and references to orientalist appropriations of Indian culture, as well as the personification of animals seen in folklore. 

Most images are a collage of stunning architecture across Rajasthan, Delhi and Hampi, photographed, which is scanned and digitally combined with photographs of animals. Knorr transfixes the viewer with her surreal views, peppering her work with considerations of caste, femininity and how they relate to the animal world.

The show is on view till 19th March 2014.

The Nanyang Spirit

( Work on display)

Art Spice Gallery, at the Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi presents a show titled, ‘The Nanyang Spirit’. The twenty two Singaporean artists, each with a unique style of painting, are all representatives of the ‘Nanyang’ spirit. 

Having grown up in Singapore during the developmental period, some of these artists have experienced the tensions between tradition and modernity, enabling them to incorporate these elements into their painting styles. Such is the essence of the ‘Nanyang’ spirit. In these ‘Nanyang’ artists express their personal unique painting styles in their artworks, often through a blend of multiple stylistic techniques of the East and West, resulting in a varied body of works unified by their focus on Southeast Asian subjects.

The show is on view from 12th March to 21st March 2014.

A Tree from my backyard

( Work by Arunanshu Chowdhury)

Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai presents a solo show of art works by artist Arunanshu Chowdhury.

The show titled, ‘A Tree from my backyard’ features the works by the artist which focus on the amalgamation of cultures, people and where the idea of origin is lost in this give and take.
Depicting the intersection of diversity from a global scenario, the artist blends and presents small scale works and large scale ones as well. this incessant influencing, tends to dilute the original and there is a shift in the equilibrium. 
Trying to visualise the lost traditional with the popular and the so called new, the artist bridges the gap with his works and thoughts of time and movement.

The show previews on 14th March and is on view till 27th March 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Krishen Khanna On Painting At Night, Drawing With His Eyes Closed And The Modern Cannibal

(Artist Krishen Khanna)

“To this day it makes me wonder how a small lead point peeping out of a pencil can yield so much,” writes Krishen Khanna in his handwritten concept note accompanying his ongoing solo show A Celebration of Lines at Sakshi Gallery. In Khanna’s case, the yield is a body of drawings and canvases dating back over 40 years, encompassing his minimalist experiments with Japanese woodcuts and his gory vignettes of ghoulish cannibals, and harking back to a childhood spent in Lahore and being witness to the violence of Partition. The 88-year-old Khanna, who quit a career in banking and joined the Progressive Artists’ Group at the behest of M. F. Husain, his friend and fellow painter, spoke to us from Gurgaon about painting at night, drawing with his eyes closed and sleeping at the early hour of 11pm. Edited excerpts:

In your concept note you say, “Sometimes I even close my eyes and let the point roam”. Is there a work in the show that started from that point?
No, I don’t think so. I’ve used this methodology many times in the past as well. It doesn’t become evident though, it gets scrubbed out, I go over it and use what I need. It’s a combination of the unconscious and the conscious mind.

You have a lovely work of an old lady called “Bye Bye Miss Amery”. Who was she?
She was an old Brit who lived in Lahore. She used to teach English and was employed by my father to teach my mother English. My mother was very young, my father was considerably older and more educated. She was a regular in the house, and used to come three times a week to teach English. She (Miss Amery) was a big, fat, old lady, she melded into the sofa she was sitting in, so you couldn’t very well distinguish where her clothes ended and the sofa began. She was an amusing woman and very proper.

There are a series of drawings of ghoulish cannibals, one shown plucking the eyeball of another. What inspired these works?
Well, current situations, where people are eating people, that was about three years ago. Periodically I venture into this kind of horrific drawing which nobody is going to buy, but that doesn’t matter. These are metaphorical drawings of what is going on today in many ways. There’s a depletion of love, and increase in the variety of hate.

( Selection of a Target)

Could you tell us a little more about the work of the man peeping out from a tree (see image, at left)?

This was apropos of the assassination of Saunders, who everyone said was shot by Bhagat Singh. Of course it was a whole lot of people who did it. [In this work] there’s this chap in the tree, he’s photographing the cavalcade which used to past underneath my window. I saw this fellow, and I asked the chap looking after me, who is this fellow and he said he’s just bird watching. Later on it dawned on me, he wasn’t watching birds, he was looking for a target. This was in Lahore.

How do you spend your day?
I do get up early to start painting, the evenings I spend doing drawings. I go to bed relatively early, around 11pm. I used to go to bed much later than I do now. All these drawings were done more or less in the evenings. I used to read a lot. The thing is I read a lot of poetry. I still remember a lot of poetry, and the poetry I remember I don’t need to read, I verbalise it to myself. The various images from the poems, things I’ve seen, they all meld and work together in an image, which I then might be interested in painting and drawing.

Do you still paint at night as you used to do with M. F. Husain?
We used to have night sessions in a little studio. I’d be painting, he’d break off and say, ‘You carry on painting, I have to say my prayers’. I was painting, and he was saying his prayers in this tiny little studio. Those were very happy times. Night is a wonderful time to work, no disturbance, no telephones. Of course I was much younger then.

(Report sourced from Mumbai Boss)

Aravallis- From hills to apartments, Life Inspired and more..

NEWS

Aravallis - From hills to apartments

Alliance Francaise de Delhi, Gurgaon is hosting a group photography show, ‘Aravallis – From hills to apartments’, showcasing the works of Vinit Gupta, Cara Louwman, Vicky Roy and Marianne Van Loo.

The exhibition showcases the perspectives of four photographers and their reactions to the changing landscapes of Gurgaon. These landscapes are manifestations of the processes of modernisation and growth, in consonance with its image of a millennium city. The images are artistic portrayals of the economic and social impact on the polity and fabric of a city in the making.

The show is on view till 5th April 2014.

Life Inspired

( Work on display)

Aalankritha Art Gallery, Hyderabad invites all the art lovers for a really enriching experience at an art exhibition. The painting exhibition features the works of three young and immensely talented artists, Avinash Basu, MS Vasu and Nirmal Karmakar.

The show is titled, ‘Life Inspired’ and will be on view till 15th March 2014.

Shades of Women

( Work on display)

Gallery Space, Hyderabad presents a show titled,‘Shades of Women’ an international group exhibition of paintings, sculpture, print, photography. The participating artists are Anjolei Ela menon, Anupam Sood, Arpana Caur, Seema Kohli, Jaya Baheti, Ambreen, Poonam Chandrika, Usha Mishra, Rohini Reddy, Sneha Latha, Deepanath, Geetha, Tripti Dave, Sravanthi Juluri, Sarswathi, Lopa Mudru, Lona Logan, Rangoli Garg and others.

The show displays women centric themes by male and female artists. 

The show is on view till 23rd March 2014.

Exploring nuances of Oil painting

The Art Loft, Mumbai presents ‘Exploring Nuances of Oil Painting’ an invite to art enthusiasts to dabble in oil painting and explore its nuances with French artist Soazic Guezennec. Soazic lives and works in Mumbai and usually blends a poetic vision with a sense of threat in her works. She has been acknowledged and appreciated for her ecological sensibility that reflects in most of her creative works.

In the workshop, participants can explore the nuances and techniques of oil painting. You can also bring along the work of an artist you admire and Soazic will guide you to create your own interpretations inspired by their work. Her classes and way of teaching are intended to make the student independent and fearless in exploring their own path.

The workshop is on till 25th March 2014.

( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Artist Nandita Kumar Explains Her Trippy New Show At Lakeeren Gallery

Nandita Kumar’s show Let THe bRAinFly is a mind trip and not only because of the awkward spelling of the title (“I do all my titling slightly dyslexic because I’m slightly dyslexic,” she says). There are the titular brainflies, literally brains with wings, that flit across the gallery walls of Lakeeren in Colaba, where this show is taking place; clouds of drain covers that hang from the ceiling; and canvases that leak bug-like creatures that on closer inspection turn out to be livers and legs and other errant body parts. “Letting the brain fly symbolises freedom of thought,” says Kumar, an Auckland- and Mumbai-based artist, who was born in Africa, and who made her way to our city via Austria, where she spent a year living on an organic beef farm. This work, she says, is an attempt to bring together various strains of thought – of living on a metaphorical plane without losing track of reality; of embracing our masculine and feminine sides; of understanding sexuality; of living in the present; and of navigating life with an acute awareness of both mind and body. “Your true journey starts when you’re ready for an adventure,” says Kumar, who took us through this complex work and explained what it all means.

“When I migrated to New Zealand, I began analysing what I was experiencing, Carl Jung calls it the process of individuation,” says Kumar who has degrees in painting and experimental animation and filmmaking from universities in California, New Zealand and India. This wall of heads, called Assembly Line Emo, is she says all the emotions one experiences in the process of figuring things out – fear, guilt, pain – and the personas we adopt – the finger pointer, the listener, the tripper. Just out of frame in the lower right corner are tiny brains in wheelchairs, which Kumar says are symbolic of the process of evolution, “that at some point the brain has to get out of the wheelchair”.

Neuron Scape, says Kumar, is evocative of Ardhanarishvara, that is, the joint male and female figure of Shiva and Parvati. “If you don’t respect the feminine power, you can’t respect the masculine.” Kumar’s works frequently transgress the traditional barrier, not just metaphorically, but also literally, which is why these works flow off the canvas completely.

Titled aptly The Orgy of the Organs, these sea creature-like specimens are actually just body parts – breasts, spinal cords, teeth cavities, tongues, just a great mass of organs that appear to float off the canvas and towards the ceiling. “It’s about loving everything to do with the body,” says Kumar.

The all seeing third eye bobs in an ocean – is it sinking or rising? “It could be either,” says Kumar, who titled this work simply C. “It’s about seeing things as it is, an awakening of sorts.”

(Report sourced from Mumbai Boss)

Durga, The Bonding of a Dream, The Iran Issue and more..

NEWS

The Bonding of Dream

( Work on display)

Gallery Space, Hyderabad presents an art exhibition of Samir Sarkar paintings that are all about creating shapes using different colors. The show is titled, ‘The Bonding of Dream’. This artist does not use any particular lines but his art works are all about using colors to achieve a desired result. The canvases look spectacular and they do express a plethora of thoughts and emotions.

The works rendered in figurative style and vibrant colors feature human figures in various actions like musicians etc.

The show is on view from 12th to 20th March 2014.

Durga

( Work on display)

The Gallery, Gurgaon invites art lovers for a special exhibition, ‘Durga – Dynamics of power, gender bias and a story of Widows in India’ by the experienced photographer, designer and art director Sharmistha Dutta. The show was launched on Women’s Day and will go on till the last week of March.

The exhibition celebrates Sharmistha’s latest works; a collection of photographs that highlight the emergence of women in India comparing them with the deity Durga. On the day of inauguration, there was a special preview of spring summer collection of Amyra by fashion designer Preeti Ghai over wine and cheese.

The show is on view till 29th March 2014.

The Iran Issue

(Work on display)

Studio 21, Kolkata presents ‘The Iran Issue’, a group show and printed quarterly comprising of 14 established and upcoming Iranian photographers, working within and outside Iran. The images include documentary and fictional narratives as well as art photography. The issue seeks to show Iran's connection with South Asian countries by dealing with varying aspects of democracy.

The photographs investigate notions of amnesia, censorship and identity through documentary, as well as staged formats. The ideas underlying the works range from encounters with the state, to a re-assessment of one’s personal life.

The show is on view till 29th March 2014.

Retrospective on Indian Cinema

( work on display)

The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre (HICC), in collaboration with the Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, and curator Nupur Tron, present a photo exhibition named ‘Retrospective on Indian Cinema’. 

To mark the occasion of the centenary of Indian cinema this year, the photo exhibition will be showcasing several iconic and many never-before-seen images of actors, scenes, sets and locations during the filming of Satyajit Ray’s films as well as the filmmaker at work, taken over a twenty-five year period, as well as an array of images of regional films and actors.

The show is on view till 19th March 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Life and dreams

Renuka Sondhi Gulati’s exhibition “The Phoenix Woman” exhorts women to pursue their aspirations while fulfilling their responsibilities

( Work by Renuka Sondhi Gulati)

Strong lines and soft colours; realistic drawings and abstract backgrounds; details and simplicity; busts mostly of women, at any age, with their lives and their feelings are all components of the exhibition “The Phoenix Woman” by artist Renuka Sondhi Gulati at Shridharani Gallery.

Renuka’s paintings and sculptures represent women of all ages, from childhood to old age. The message behind these figures is strong and simple: that time goes by, life goes on, but we are always there and there are no loopholes. One has to accept with serenity the flow of time and understand that what one does is the true beauty of life. The simplicity of her work is vivid. Renuka’s aim is to create an art which is easy to relate to, in which subjects are not overwhelmed by too many decorations. “The painting must speak,” she says. At the same time, however, her figures are very detailed and are evidence of an in-depth study of the representation of the human figure.

Metal elements often accompany her representations, and metal is seen as a metaphysical element that brings one back to reality: a symbol of the difficulty of freeing our thoughts and our dreams. The contemporary society with its needs and its commitments, affects women’s lives more than men. They are often expected to be good mothers and good housewives, taking care of the needs of the children and the family. A woman, in most of the cases, has to be stronger than a man to achieve her dreams. A man on the contrary will not be considered a bad father even he works all day and gives priority to his career while delegating family care to his wife.

When Renuka realised that art was her future, she knew she could not let her being a wife and mother prevent her from pursuing her passion. She understood that only a happy and successful woman can be a happy and successful mother and wife too; hence she began to practice, study and work hard. Her life and art have important messages for younger generations, especially women: do not let the roles prescribed by society stop you from dreaming and realise your ambitions — all it requires is hard work and dedication.

The exhibition continues till March 16, Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, Tansen Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

( Report by Daniele Pagani for The Hindu)

Taking the Line for a Walk, The Phoenix Woman and more..

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Taking the line for a walk

The Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation and The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai presents ‘Taking the Line for a Walk’. 

The Jehangir Nicholson collection will showcase 45 drawings by acclaimed artists including Tyeb Mehta, Akbar Padamsee, FN Souza, SH Raza, Laxman Shreshtha, Manjit Bawa and Sudhir Patwardhan. 

This exhibition looks at Drawing as a significant art practice - as an end product in itself.

The exhibition is on till 30th August 2014.

In an Artist’s Mind

Gallerie Angel Arts, Mumbai presents their curated show titled ‘In an Artist’s Mind’ which will be showcased at The Reflections lounge, JW Marriott.

The show has works of reputed artists like Arunanshu Chowdhury, Anjilie Vellody, Brinda Miller, Jaideep Mehrotra, Sunil Padwal, Ganesh Gohain, Heeral Trivedi, Viraj Naik, Yashwant Deshmukh and photographs by Sanjay. F. Gupta.

The show with an eclectic mix of art works is an attempt to bring in the art lovers and art collectors of the city.

The show commenced on 7th March and will be on view till 31st March 2014.

The Phoenix Woman

Shridharini Art Gallery, New Delhi presents an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by artist Renuka Sondhi Gulati. Renuka Sondhi Gulati, is a prominent female painter and sculptor working under the tutelage of eminent artist Rameshwar Broota and artist Sanjay Roy at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. 

This is her 8th solo show of paintings and sculptures and the show it titled ‘The Phoenix Woman’ and is on view till 16th March 2014.

The ‘8’ show

Attic Studio, Mumbai showcases the work of eight courageous women artists in an art exhibition to celebrate International Women’s Day. The show titled ‘8’ seeks to highlight the creative contribution and strength of women in our society. 

Participating artists are Allison Pinto, Devyani Parekh, Poonam Aggarwal, Ribaka Nikam, Reha Shishodia, Sheetal Gattani, Shefali Shah and Sunita Wadhawan.

The show has on display paintings rendered in various styles like figurations and abstractions with a leaning on spirituality in a plethora of mediums like water colours, oils, acrylics, pastels, ink and charcoal on paper and canvas.

The show previews on 8th March and will be on view till 22nd March 2014.

( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Speaking lines

Japanese art scholar, Kojiro Tomita observed: “It has been said that art is a tryst, for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet.” On Doodle Day, MetroPlus catches up with five of the city’s most popular illustrators/cartoonists who concur that a sense of humour is most definitely a part of their art.

Balraj K.N.

(Balraj K N)

How did you come to be a cartoonist?

I doodled in school while others by hearted answers. Of course, 30 years ago they could neither Google answers to questions nor their futures. After 12th grade, the fact that I was good at nothing helped me pursue a career in nothing particular. I accidentally stumbled upon cartooning everyday!

Where do you get your inspiration to doodle from?

That’s a trade secret. But it helps if you are a little weird, wear casuals and are bad at counting money. On a serious note, good cartoonists and doodlers look at the world around them with inquisitive eyes. Observation, association and lateral thinking can give birth to great ideas.

Your process/way of working/doodling?

I start by scratching my head non-stop, a way to pique my brain to kick start for ideas! Because, more often, I need to think before I draw. I doodle but rarely at random. Based on whether it is a cartoon or illustration, I either put on my thinking cap or let my fingers do the talking. Sometimes, I alternate between the two for the requirement at hand.

Your favourite doodle?

My own cartoon, ‘Cricket-A Religion’ that was published in Deccan Herald.

What does it take to make it big as a cartoonist?

Burning fire in your belly. And the lack of fire extinguishers with editors, clients, family, friends and foes.

Rasheed Kappan

(Rasheed Kappan)

How did you come to be a cartoonist?

I had always enjoyed looking at society from a tongue-in-cheek prism. Marrying this attitude with a bit of drawing skills, I dived deep into cartooning. And yes, I knew where to draw the line!

Where do you get your inspiration to doodle from?

When you doodle, you get oodles of ideas. You draw from that rich pool, put pen to paper and let it wander like your mind. Our city and its fumbling governing class are so outrageously generous to give me ideas to make fun of.

Your process /way of working /doodling?

I chose the graphic style to create my cartoons. Because, I believe that every cartoon is a work of art, with the right composition. The art, graphics and design should be compelling enough for the viewer to sit up and notice, laugh and think.

Your favourite doodle?

I loved doing the one on the cop stopping the motorcyclist, inserting his nose deep into the biker's mouth and analysing the latter's breath. That's called invading your private space!

What does it take to make it big as a cartoonist?

You need a funny bone for sure. You ought to shed your inhibitions to laugh even at yourself. Basic drawing skills are adequate, provided you don't respect anyone beyond reasonable limits.

Rohan Chakravarty

(Rohan Chakravarty)

How did you come to be a cartoonist?

I write and draw a series of cartoons on wildlife and conservation called Green Humour. It all began with a sighting of a gorgeous tigress bathing in a waterhole at Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary. When ladies in bathtubs are the reason why you picked up a pen and started drawing, there usually isn’t any looking back!

Where do you get your inspiration to doodle from?

Inspiration is like a spam advertisement phone call- it can ring anywhere, at any time, is almost always unexpected and barges in bang when you’re in the middle of something. My sources could be anything from watching and observing birds and animals, to reading or even spending some time feeding and playing with dogs and cats; and of course, ‘last minute panic’ in the words of Bill Watterson.

Your process/way of working/doodling?

I write my ideas first in a very unkempt notebook, which is always accompanied by sketches I hate to claim ownership of on a second look. I then do a rough sketch using a ball pen and take it to Photoshop

Your favourite doodle

Among the work of artists who inspire me- the cartoons from Gary Larson’s Far Side series, the art of Genndy Tartakovsky, Hanna-Barbera and Chuck Jones. I love the wildlife caricatures of Brendan Wenzel and the cartoons of the late Jay Norwood ‘Ding’ Darling.

Alicia Souza

(Alicia Souza)

How did you come to be a cartoonist?

I think it happened by chance, really. It was just a fun, alternate way to document stories and funnies. When I realised I had an audience, it then became a daily mini obsession. My pencil has been scribbling post work hours since.

Where do you get your inspiration to doodle from?

Everywhere, from everything and everyone! Since it's always been about just documenting or a visual one-sided conversation, my topics always included doings or happenings in my daily life.

Your process/way of working/doodling?

It involves 5 steps that I’ve doodled for my followers online who ask the same question! Gathering raw materials, combining the materials, incubating, the A-ha! moment and finally, the idea to reality!

Your favourite doodle?

I love Peanuts by Charles Shultz. He's probably one of my favourite cartoonists. Everything he draws is just so loveable!

What does it take to make it big as a cartoonist?

Lots of drawing time.

Prasad Bhat

(Prasad Bhat)

How did you come to be a cartoonist?

Chance fuelled by passion for art. I was still working as a designer for firms when I started working on my first caricatures. Soon, people wanted to pay for my creations and then, there was no looking back! Graphicurry came into being.

Where do you get your inspiration to doodle from?

My favorite subjects are from the movies, music or television. I am a movie addict. I draw inspiration from every scene, every dialogue, and every movie. I get my sense of light, direction and angle from each scene.

Your process/way of working/doodling?

I study my subject for days or sometimes weeks. I analyse their gestures, body language as well as their personality. I do a lot of character study to come up with each subject. Maybe that’s why I end up getting biased and creating subjects which hold my affection most!

Your favourite doodle?

Mario de Miranda’s depiction of scenes from Germany in his book of travels is precious. I am not into travelling, but his books manage to transport me to a whole new space mentally and spiritually.

What does it take to make it big as a cartoonist?

Only being grounded, patient and perseverant can get you there. Art is still not a socially accepted form of livelihood for a majority of our ecosystem. Hence, it is absolutely imperative to pay heed to the right signs and advises. Be honest in accessing your own skills, set realistic goals and work towards achieving them.

(Report by Neeti Sarkar for The Hindu)