Varanasi Revisited, Amit Ambalal Solo, Visual Panorama and more..

NEWS

Amit Ambalal’s Solo

(Work on display)

Gallery Espace, New Delhi is featuring the latest works by eminent artist Amit Ambalal. The exhibition is a compilation of sculptures and drawings by this Ahmedabad based artist. His themes are mostly based on simple things that surround him like a parrot in the courtyard and monkeys breaking things around. 

His recent works remind him of the wooden toys and different sculptures in the Vaishnava Havelis. Other than his beautiful artworks, Amit also came up with a book on Rajasthani paintings from Nathdwara, which was published in 1987. 

The show is on view till 5th April 2014.

Visual Panorama

( work on display)

The P L Deshpande Art Gallery, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai presents a group show of mammoth proportions. The show titled, ‘Visual Panorama’ displays the works of 20 eminent and upcoming artists from different parts of the country.

The show displays some realistic, semi-realistic, abstract styles and spiritual expressions on subjects of beauty, divinity and love. The mediums explored also vary from oil, acrylic, mixed media, ceramic, water colours, charcoal etc on canvas and paper and mixed media sculptures and murals. The show is curated by Guruprio Paul and the participating artists are, Prithvi Soni, Ramji Sharma, Ramesh Sharma, Sakalkanti Mitra, Sekhar Roy, Mohan Jadhav, Simi Sharma,  Shashikant Charbe,  Vidya Menon,  Dinesh Singh,Alka Pandey, Ritu Gupta, Sudhir Bania, Adurthi Srinivas Rao, Anjali Yadav, Sandip Visave.

The show is on till 28th March 2014.

Mera Gobind

All India Fine Arts & Cfrafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi presents an art exhibition by artist A.S. Chitrak. The exhibition titled, ‘Mera Gobind’ is an emotional perspective and vision of Chitrak. His collection showcases the journey of Guru Gobind Singh through his eyes. Chitrak completely submerges himself into his work and portrays scenes and learnings from the stories and fables of the legendary figure.

The works are figuratives with exclusive narratives and a flair of story telling in them. The show commences on 25th March and is on view till 31st March 2014.

Varanasi Revisited

Art Indus, New Delhi presents a solo show of works by artist Reena Singh. The show is titled, ‘Varanasi Revisited’ and on display are art works, paintings specifically rendered in intense abstractions.

The artist has captured the nuances of the culturally rich surroundings of the city of Varanasi in equally vibrant and bold strokes, textures and colours. The history loaded city has a lot to offer in terms of experiences be it art, literature, culture and the artist has taken the pains to depict all of these features in her works. The works, rendered in the acrylic on canvas medium, derive from nature, cityscapes and landscapes, depictions of the Ganga river, boats, temples, etc which complete the whole experience of the city.

The show is on view till 1st April 2014.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)


FEATURE

A legacy of art

An accidental discovery of a cache of art of J. Vasanthan has led to the creation of an Art foundation

(Solomon Pappiah inaugurating the JV art foundation.)

English Prof J. Vasanthan who died two months ago, has left behind more than 2,500 brilliant art works. They came to light when his book shelves were being cleared. The discovery propelled his daughter Chandini Appadurai to start the J. Vasanthan Art Foundation.

Besides keeping alive the memory and legacy of the professor, the foundation will also provide a platform for emerging artists and raise awareness and appreciation of art and culture.

Chandini says she often saw her father sketch on the backs of calendars. “In seconds he would come out with a drawing. I did not understand the nuances of his artwork those days,” she says.

Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, Managing Trustee of the foundation, remembers how when Vasanthan was a student in Madras Christian College he would sketch regularly. “Not a day passed without his caricatures displayed on the notice board.” Prof Solomon Papiah, a contemporary of JV, praised the contributions of the late English teacher while his former colleagues and friends Prof Nedumaran and D. Samuel Lawrence recalled his dedication to teaching and his helpful nature. “We have planned a series of art exhibitions in Madurai, Chennai, Puducherry and Delhi culminating on the first death anniversary of my father,” says Chandini.

Objectives of the Vasanthan foundation:

Recover his original works, preserve and document the art pieces.

Conduct a bibliographic research to index his written works since 1950.

Seek the help of art critics to categorise his sketches.

Bring out a coffee table book

Establish an art school

Organise seminars, workshops, lectures by visiting artists and interface with schools and colleges to promote art education.

Through an endowment fund, create scholarships and stipends for budding artists

Hold regular competitions for young people.

(Report by Shailaja Tripathi for The Hindu)

Indian Divine, Head Tale, and more..

NEWS

Head Tale

( work on display)

Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi presents a solo show of paintings by artist Soumen Bhowmick. The show titled, ‘Head Tale’ tells the tale of hope, despair, failure, struggle, deceit and tears of all kinds of disillusioned people who make up the fabric of society. Like the children who perform on streets for a living, migrant labourers in an urban space who live with flse hope of ever becoming rich.  All these heads are reflecting the soul of our present society. The contemporary dilemmas of mankind are vividly portrayed here.

'Head Tale' stands on an understanding of daily exploration of a soulless journey towards attaining the truth. The show tries to visually trace the imperfect frameworks for negotiating the complexity of existence.  The elements facilitate engagement at all levels of consciousness, being provocative in nature. 'Head Tale’ is based on the inner turmoil and its struggle with various elements. Influenced by forces of society, norms of survival, rules of coordinated etiquette, economic pitfalls, political lies, back stabbing idiots, race to success.

The show is on from 15th March to 25th March 2014.

Versicoloured Days of Mine

All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi presents a solo show of paintings by artist Archana Das. The show is titled, ‘Versicoloured Days of Mine’ and on display are the vibrant evocative paintings of the artist. Delving into figuration and a strong narrative for her works, the artist presents a series with distinct stories to tell.

The show is to be inaugurated by eminent art critic and poet, Keshav Malik, and will be presided over by Ram V Sutar eminent sculptor and President of AIFACS and Paramjeet Singh, eminent painter and Chairman of AIFACs, New Delhi.

The show previews on 10th March 2014 and is on view till 16th March 2014.

Indian Divine

Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi presents its upcoming exhibition titled, ‘Indian Divine:  Gods & Goddesses in 20th Century Modern Art’. The show explores the worship, propitiated, cajoled and given a primal place in the lives of Indians from the earliest of times to today.

The works are dated across three centuries from 19th century to present day, earliest work dating from 1849 on saint Chaitanya in the Early Bengal style. The exhibition aims to build a historical perspective and chronology of Indian art through mainstream religions like Hinduism, Buddhism,Islam and Christianity. It includes paintings in the Western style of deities by artists like Raja Ravi Varma, MV Dhurandhar and paintings from the Kalighat style and the early Bengal styles. Other artists works in the show are Nandalal Bose, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Ganesh Pyne, MF Hussain, KK Hebbar,Rabin Mondal, PV Janakiram,Krishen Khanna, FN Souza, Madhvi Parekh, Kanwal Krishna, S Dhanpal and V Nageshkar, GR Santosh, Sohan Qadri, PT Reddy, Sunil Das among many others.

The show is on view from 15th March to 26th March 2014

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

New art space, Tarq, opens in Colaba

A 3,000-sq-ft gallery, Tarq, opened in Colaba with celebrated photographer Clare Arni’s Disappearing Professions of Urban India on display

(A Tinner in Delhi; copper can react with acidic foods causing toxins. In such workshops, pots are tinned on the inside. With the coming of stainless steel vessels, this profession is vanishing.)

While art lovers are spoilt for choice at Colaba and the neighbouring Kala Ghoda sub- precinct, there always seems to be room for more. It’s evident with the opening of Tarq, the latest gallery to open its shutters at Colaba. The new gallery spans 3,000-sq-ft and is spread across the ground and first floors. Tarq in Sanskrit stands for discussion, abstract reasoning, logic and cause. The contemporary art gallery is dedicated to enabling a conversation around art from a diverse range of contexts.

Gallery talk

(Dhobi Ghat in Bangalore; there are 40 permanent members. With the introduction of washing machines their work is getting less and less.)

Gallery director Hena Kapadia elaborates, “The idea of this gallery is to be open to conversation, and to be a space where artist, collector, critic and art enthusiasts can learn and grow together. The intention is to have a space where different voices can be heard, and a sense of context and history can be developed.”

She adds that they wish to encourage a constant dialogue between the viewer and the artist and work with newer artists and collectors. “A clear sense of the artist’s thought and an insight into his practice are essential in choosing works for me. The influence of the artist’s larger context on the art, and how that is effectively expressed in the work is also essential to an artwork,” elaborates Kapadia.

(Quri Mohd Yaqub in Delhi is a calligrapher. Arni recounts that he sat with his legs tucked under him and sang his answers to her questions.)

Offering some location trivia, she states that the gallery, located in Dhanraj Mahal, is one of Mumbai’s iconic Art Deco buildings. “It was built in the 1930s and was the former palace of the Raja Dhanrajgir of Hyderabad. It was designed by the architectural firm of Gregson, Batley and King, and is now home to several commercial enterprises as well as private residences. Having housed the British Navy in World War II, the building has recently been restored to its former glory,” she informs.

Bangalore to Mumbai

(Tarq gallery in Colaba is spread across 3,000-sq-feet)

The first exhibition to grace the gallery is Clare Arni’s collection of images featuring the country’s vanishing occupations. Kapadia met Arni in Bangalore and loved her photos and the thoughtful archive that she had created. The exhibition has 50 images on display. All are digital photographs, some are on paper and a few are printed on canvas.

The UK-born and Bangalore-based photographer says that she stumbled upon the subject of her latest exhibition, titled Disappearing Professions of Urban India: “I was working on the subject of urban change, and I found that this was a good way to document the changing face of the urban geography of India.” Arni, a professional photographer for over 25 years in India, shot these works over a span of six years. Till April 1st 2014.



( Report by Soma Das for Mid-Day)

Deep Sleep, If You will stay close to Nature and more..

NEWS

ArtC New Media Programs

 (Work by Takeshi Murata “Shiboogi” )

Phoenix Market City, Chennai and ArtC  will be unveiling its vibrant new media exhibition program for 2014. These works will compliment the existing program of sculptures, installation, photography, and design that can be found throughout the mall.

The ArtC new media program includes a curated exhibition of animated video art works, Still Moves, showing works by William Kentridge, Shahzia Sikander, Jennifer Steinkamp, Takeshi Murata, Pae White, and Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg. In the lifts, seminal soundart works by Yoko Ono, Scanner (Robin Rimbaud), and Mehreen Murtaza will transform an everyday elevator experience. The ArtC program in Phoenix Market City, Chennai is curated by Diana Campbell Betancourt and produced by Eve Lemesle.

ArtC has exhibited video works by artists such as Leslie Thornton, Alyson Shotz, Takashi Ishida, Cheng Ran, Gigi Scaria, and Rohini Devasher. The internationally acclaimed video art can be experienced on the outdoor LED screen of the mall, as well inside the mall, projected in the lift banks on all four floors.

Additional works by Aakash Nihalani, Anjum Singh, Arunkumar HG, Gigi Scaria, L.N. Tallur, Ravinder Reddy, Rooshad Shroff, Samir Parker, Sunil Gawde, Thukral & Tagra, Vishal Dar, and Manish Nai are also on view. ArtC is also thrilled to announce its inaugural photography exhibition by the internationally acclaimed Indian photographer Pablo Bartholomew. The space also includes animated LED sign systems on the escalators where the public can share their reactions to the art via an interactive SMS technology platform. ArtC invites artists to submit proposals for this platform—please contact info@artcindia.org for more information.

ArtC 2014 will open on February 13th 2014.

Bird Cage

All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society ( AIFACS), New Delhi and Ravinder Dutt presents a show titled, ‘Bird Cage’ the winner of the 4th AIFACS 2014 All India Digital Art award.

Bird Cage is a tribute to the lesser known women of the Harem both in  India and elsewhere in the world. The work is not just gender specific here but also a direct satire on how we as humans are and how we all wear masks of our own and what society labels us based on what we are perceived to be.

The show commences on 17th February and is on view till 26th February 2014.

Deep Sleep

Gallery Ske, Bangalore, presents a solo show of artist Srinivasa Prasad titled, ‘Deep Sleep’. In the show, Srinivasa Prasad journeys back to the memories of childhood and the subconscious to create work that is playful, engaging and interactive. Employing discarded, found, retired, reused and readymade objects Prasad creates works across the media of sculpture and installation, video and photography. 

Continuing his exploration of ritual, Prasad infuses his work with elements of performance. The eponymous work in the show is a black tent constructed of mosquito nets, hung from the ceiling by cobwebs of glue. The work also includes audio of the monotonous drone of a loud snore. As with Prasad’s earlier works, the exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in the work and make their own journeys into the subconscious.

The show opens on 15th February at 7:00pm and is on view till 29th March 2014.

If You will Stay Close to Nature..

(Work by Jayashree Chakravarty)

Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi presents an exclusive art exhibition titled, ‘If You Will Stay Close To Nature...’. The show displays artworks by artist Jayashree Chakravarty. 

Residing and working in Kolkata, India, Jayashree studied painting (BFA) at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, and completed post diploma at the Faculty of Fine Arts of M.S. University, Baroda.

The collection by the artist is mostly autobiographical. Her works on paper by ink or oils have the feel of a dream about them. The artist relates to human beings living in a distant country and a different culture. This has expanded her horizons of imagination and has forced her to change her pre-conceived images.

The show will commence on 28th February and will be on view till 25th March 2014.

( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

The sign of four

The four stalwarts of the Madras Movement, S. Nandagopal, K. Muralidharan, C. Douglas and Rm. Palaniappan, showcase the fruition of their long artistic journey at a group show

(K. Muralidharan's work)

There’s a relaxed sense of camaraderie in the gallery. Four of Chennai’s senior artists are overseeing the setting up of their group show at Artworld (as part of Art Chennai), and you can see why they’ve chosen to exhibit together as they stand about chatting, having a chai, and amiably taking turns talking to me.

“As a group, we just gel together,” says sculptor S. Nandagopal. “We did a show in Bangalore, and it worked well, so we decided to get together again. We’re planning to do one in Delhi next.”

Their personalities are as different as their signature styles, and that, says K. Muralidharan, is why the group has value. “Our work is distinctive, but there’s a common thread running through it all.”

(C. Douglas' work)

In this exhibition, a definite common thread is the size of the works; each artist has contributed an eye-catching large-scale work, six, seven or nine feet across (Nandagopal’s ‘The Silver Pilgrimage’ is so large, it needed a separate alcove outside), accompanied by other smaller, more delicate works.

The other commonality is in content, but it’s subtle, spinning a gossamer fine web of connections across the gallery space. In his large, dark grey-black, distressed canvases (highlighted gorgeously with cobalt blue varnish), C. Douglas continues to delve deeper into the tortured world of the ‘Blind Poet and the Butterflies’, a world full of poetry, metaphor and existential angst. Words from Tagore’s ‘Fireflies’ flit across the canvas, as a blind poet gropes in vain across his library and the all-seeing butterflies emerge from their chrysalis…

“My theories are gaining clarity, and they’re leading me to greater faith,” he says. Those theories are strongly influenced by the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke and the writings of French theorist Maurice Blanchot, ruminations on “faith, poetry and art, that which can save us”, of man’s blindness and inability to just believe, and the simple wisdom of animals like the fluttering butterfly.

(S. Nandagopal's work)

Animals take centre stage in the effervescent works of Muralidharan, of course, now more than ever. His treatment of them is as filled with light as Douglas’ are filled with shadows. In these brightly coloured abstract landscapes, he foregrounds the noble temple elephants, the graceful peacocks, and forest birds and animals, creating a fantastical world that combines Nature, mythology and the rustic effortlessly.

“I’ve begun to focus exclusively on landscapes, animals and birds,” he says. “The process of creation of these large works was entirely spontaneous, unfolding on the canvas like a celebration.”

As with Douglas, texture has always played an important part in Muralidharan’s works, and that effect is heightened in this collection, where he uses mixed media — paper, cloth — to create a textile-like feel, the smaller pieces textured like embroidery or appliqué.

Mythological figures, animals... all these elements find echoes in Nandagopal’s copper-brass sculptures. In the massive seven foot by seven foot ‘The Silver Pilgrimage’ (named after the novel by the late Chief Justice of Madras M. Ananthanarayanan), an ascetic completes his spiritual journey surrounded by animals and by Nature, the whole graceful work coated in gleaming, enigmatic silver.

“It took me four months to finish, and my hands are filled with burns from the silver cyanide!” he laughs. “Silver-coating on copper-brass is a time-consuming process that’s not done much nowadays.”

(Rm. Palaniappan's work)

The large-scale work comes on the heels of his massive 25-foot sculpture done for the Hyatt, and as much as he enjoyed the sense of space these works afforded him, it was a pleasure, he says, to return to small pieces, “which feel within your control”. The smaller brass sculptures in this collection are delightful, glowing in jewel tones of blue, green and red enamel (a Hanuman statue alone has eight different shades of green).

The works of Rm. Palaniappan have become increasingly spare, as he too, like Douglas and Muralidharan continues to fine-tune his philosophy and zero in on the essential. In his case, that is the line in its purest form, the line as a sculpture, as an installation, exploring its movement in a confined space.

In this collection, he’s experimented with this concept in a nine foot triptych, a celebration of lines in gold. “I’ve made it minimalistic, stripped down purely to the line,” he says. “The next step will be to bring in sound, and a line’s movement to sound into the installation.”

Forty, fifty years of being artists and the evolution continues… as Nandagopal puts it, “The process of developing your concepts and bringing them to fruition is not simple. It’s a long, lonely road.”

This exhibition is one more step ahead for these four Madras Movement stalwarts. A rare treat. The exhibition is on until February 21.

(Report by Divya Kumar for The Hindu)