Raghu Rai Collection, Paradoxes, Delhi International Arts Festival and more..

NEWS

Raghu Rai at Gallery Veda

Raghu Rai, one of India's most celebrated photographers will be displaying his works for five months at Gallery Veda, Chennai. He started his profession of photography in the year 1965 and started working as a freelance photographer after a few long stints in a newspaper and a magazine.

He is well known for his books- Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colour and Reflections in Black and White, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Tajmahal, Tibet in Exile, Mother Teresa and more. He is known for his deep research and photographs of the Indian states. He has served three times on the jury of the World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO's International Photo Contest and has won many awards.

The show is on view till  28th March 2014.

Paradoxes

Jehangir Art Terrace Gallery, Mumbai, presents a unique exhibition of photography works by photography artist Pierre Poulain. The show titled, ‘Paradoxes’ will display a range of photographs taken by Pierre, who started his journey of experimenting with the camera in 1976, driving a taxi in Paris by night to support his passion for photography during the day.

The photographs selected for this exhibition aim to capture a ‘paradoxical tension’, by a contrast of forms, of situations, of light, or of feeling. In photography, the paradox is always dynamic. It appears suddenly in a gaze, in a ray of light which illuminates a background, or in the movement of a person or object which enters the field of the lens.

The show is hosted by New Acropolis which is a global non-profit organization, represented in over fifty countries.The show previews on 13th February 2014, 7:00pm and is on view till 19th February 2014.

Glass Installation Art

Dakshinachitra, Chennai presents a solo show of artist Anjali Srinivasan. The works on display are glass installations. She is a full time artist who has over 15 years of experience in this field. Having completed her basic degree in India, she then moved on to other countries to gain in depth knowledge of the subject. 

A NIFT-ian who wanted to specialise in accessory design, Anjali decided to take a detour to glass as a creative medium with infinite possibilities. It was the beginning of a journey that took her to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design and later across the globe to various artist residencies. She has also lectured and demonstrated her work/findings at various institutions, before returning to Chennai. She is also the creative director of her studio Chochoma.

The show is on view till 16th February 2014.

Delhi International Arts Festival

Delhi’s much awaited prestigious International Arts festival is back. The iconic festival showcases all art forms from music, dance, theatre, visual arts, films, International performances and traditional arts and crafts from several countries will run in the capital  until the 23rd of February, 2014.

The Union Ministry of Culture is the main collaborator of the 7th Delhi International Arts Festival. Several organisations that come under the Ministry of Culture are organising events in their premises under the canopy of the Festival.The opening saw ethereal and colourful performances by the Manipuri dancers, Egyptian National Dance Troupe, Sri Lankan National Dance Troupe, Kashmiri dances, vibrant music by the Langas & the Manganiars from Rajasthan who performed in fusion with the ‘Kings of Creole’-Hety & Zambo from Columbia.

Literature events include panel, discussions and talks at the Sahitya Akademi. Iranian illumination artistes and craftsmen demonstrated at the National Museum and the Crafts Museum.Classical music lovers can enjoy Dhrupad Festival will be held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts on the 21st and 22nd February.

DIAF, a platform for artistes, writers, thinkers and others to congregate in Delhi, India’s Capital city to participate in India’s biggest arts Festival.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

It’s raining art in the city

Cholamandal Artists’ Village recently played host to an unusual art mela as part of the ongoing Art Chennai. Akila Kannadasan & Anusha Parthasarathy on the artist-art lover meet

(Artists at art mela)

Thirty-three senior artists, more than 300 paintings and colour-soaked conversations — Art Mela (by Artworld) at Cholamandal Artists’ Village, the first of its kind in the city, had art lovers and artists mingling in the afternoon sun, over drinks, vadais and samosas. The congregation was part of the ongoing festival, Art Chennai. And what’s more anyone attending the mela could pick up fresh works by masters such as C. Douglas, M. Senathipathi, P. Gopinath, Viswanadhan and G. Raman for just Rs. 500!

(At Art Chennai (by Artworld) at Cholamandal Artists’ Village)

The paint on the brush of the artist who painted the big-eyed dancer had not dried yet, but the visitors were privileged to purchase it straight off the drawing board. By the end of the hour, more than 300 pieces of art were sold. The mela was aimed at taking artists closer to people. “Art Mela is the first of its kind in this city,” said Biswajit Banerjee of Artworld. “The idea is to take the art out of the gallery and initiate a dialogue between artists and art lovers.”

(At Art Chennai (by Artworld) at Cholamandal Artists’ Village)

“This is a happy get-together,” said artist Ramachandran. “I really like this approach to art.” For Rm. Palaniappan, the regional secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi, “when the artists and their admirers connect in spirit it leads to a perfect ambience for creativity.” Meanwhile G. Raman was seen assuring one of his admirers who could not buy his work, as they were all sold out, to paint one for her by the end of the day. “To get 30 artists under one roof is difficult. So it feels wonderful,” he exclaimed.

(At Art Chennai (by Artworld) at Cholamandal Artists’ Village)

Through most of the morning, the visitors at Art Mela peered over the shoulders of the artists as they painted. And it was not just the big names who drew in the crowds, budding artists such as Inbavalli and Mokshitha too came in for appreciation. According to artist Muralidharan, “Such initiatives expose a new set of people to art apart from the regular gallery goers. Nothing can equal a live show. We want to connect with people. And this is the best way to do it.”

(At Art Chennai (by Artworld) at Cholamandal Artists’ Village)

Said Asma Menon, adding pink acrylic to her canvas, “It’s similar to an atelier and the concept of a walk-in mela is fascinating. Unlike a gallery, anyone can walk in here without feeling intimidated. We have even had children from the nearby slums come and watch us work.” As the day progressed, the artists slowly began to move to the lunch hall after a morning of hard work. And you could see visitors holding their newly-bought paintings close to their chests. As you left, the smell of fresh paint and colourful strokes and conversations lingered.

(Report by Akila Kannadasananusha Parthasarathy for The Hindu)

EDITORIAL - Kiran Nadar Museum and the Charity Hating Art Lovers

EDITORIAL

Kiran Nadar Museum and the Charity Hating Art Lovers

( Ms. Kiran Nadar)

Ms.Kiran Nadar, the Director of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi sent out an email appeal to the art lovers in Delhi. The mail says that Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Noida has a put up a very interesting show of modern masters culled from the collection of the museum. But none in the art scene in Delhi seems to be interested. Her appeal is that the art lovers should take interest to travel to Noida and see the exhibition. Though she does not say it, what we understand from the mail is that if none goes there it would be detrimental to the general health of our art scene. In fact, I appreciate this mail because for the first time, a director of the museum comes several rungs down from her high position (of being the owner of the museum as well as the director of it) and makes an appeal to the people. But I do not fail to see the catch; there is a veiled threat in the message. If you are not interested, then why I should run a museum at all! Interesting thing is that KNMA’s Saket wing is well attended and people take interest to go there whenever there is a show or a seminar. The appeal of Ms. Kiran Nadar brings out one of the pertinent issues of our culture; the location of a museum.

Museums are the repositories of cultural artifacts that have/had once made our cultural lives vibrant and engaged. When they transcend their immediate use value and attain a spiritual value, it is said, they reach a museum. If we go by the etymology of the word museum, it is derived from mausoleum where the dead are buried. That’s why noted cultural theorists like Douglas Crimp say that after travelling through different layers of economic activities, a work of art achieves a zero value (beyond all monetary values) and settles itself in a museum. Therefore, a work of art in a museum, in an ideal sense is a dead object which is economically irrelevant and culturally relevant. But from outside a dead body also could generate certain extrinsic economic activities as in the case of the remnants of saints, martyrs and leaders in mausoleums. When people go there to see these physical residues of saints and great people, an economic activity is generated around it. The Monalisa cannot be bought or sold anymore. But people go to Louvre Museum in Paris just to see that three by four size work of art. If so, where should be the location of a museum?

( Kiran Nadar Museum of Art)

People travel all the way to pilgrim centres to catch a glimpse of the mortal remains of a saint. But people do not go all the way to see a work of art housed in a building. If a museum is right in the middle of some other touristic attractions, then definitely in their itinerary they will include visiting the museum. In India’s case, people are just averse of museums. An average museum goer appears to be a bored person and he/she visits that place only because the travel guide has forced them to do so. But some people religiously visit museums and galleries but they are always insiders of the cultural scene. We have to ask why KNMA’s Saket premises are popular amongst the art lovers. They go to Saket, visit the museum, have a bite from one of the restaurants, do some shopping, just hang out, watch a movie, share some happy moments and just feel good about it. Across the road they have KHOJ that too offers food for cultural thoughts. It comes as a natural package. None forces anyone to see a work of art in the museum. But once you are there you have a lot to see and enjoy both inside and outside the museum. This cannot be the same case with Noida.

By the end of 1990s, KHOJ started its operations from the distant Modi Nagar in UP. By the end of the international workshop there, the organizers used to provide a bus from Mandi House to Modi Nagar. It was a day excursion for all of us; both the haves and have nots of the art scene. In fact in those days, everyone was more or less have nots. None had mobile phones and cars. Those who had it never ventured out for a long drive on a Sunday morning. Right from the established to the novice, the achiever to the struggler, the Padma Award winner to the insignificant used to come to Mandi House and catch the bus to Modi Nagar. Today KNMA too offers the same facility for its Noida shows. But none cares, why? Today, it is a changed world. Our mobility has increased, our engagements have increased, our communication facilities have increased and taking out time for going to another city to show, herded in a bus is not at all palatable, even if there is cocktails and dinner waiting for you. The immediate surroundings have more to offer. Also the idea of sending a bus and carting the people out there to the location has got something to do with charity and bonded labour. People no longer like it. Ms.Kiran Nadar, please understand this. KNMA’s Noida wing will become an important destination only when people have more to see and spend there in and around, other than art. Is Noida prepared?

( Ms. Kiran Nadar )

Years ago, Apeejay Art Centre at Badarpur Border was a destination for many people. Badarpur borders between Delhi and Haryana. Decent people never used to look at this side in those days. Borders are nowhere zones with less of cultural presence and these places are more about human struggle and survival, crimes and cheap passions. Who wants high art there? But people used to come and complain. But they used to come because still it was within the city limits. Today, had Apeejay been on, it would have been one of the biggest art haunts because the Badarpur Metro station just sits over the Apeejay Media centre. But development and planning have taken the toll on it and it looks more or less shut down with outer contours mauled by bulldozers. What about Devi Art Foundation in Gurgaon? There used to be a time people loved to go there. But the owner of the foundation switched gears. It became obsolete. When a museum gives way to experimental shit (rather shitty experiments) mind you, it is on its way to shut down. Despite metro connectivity Devi Art Foundation is no longer an interesting haunt of many. Irony is it was a pilgrimage centre for city’s cultureratti and glitterati and chatteratti and freeloaderatti. It has a designer building with a rusty look. Now, its reputation lives up to its designer facade.

Hence, my request to Ms.Kiran Nadar is this: Take a deep breath look at it. Breath out and look at it. Tell yourself that you are breathing in and breathing out. Nothing spiritual about it. It helps you to calm down and see the art people as just normal people with normal habits. They want, like any other middle class, more fun. Is Noida museum ready to give it? Just dinner and cutting edge or master shows will not do. It needs more planning. People need to think that it belongs to them. How could the multi billion empire be of the people, you may ask? But it has to belong to the people. Charity, even if it is cultural, is horrible; it demeans both the giver and taker as the lending does. But we need philanthropic people as we have not yet done away with poverty and lack. But philanthropy should be done in a Christian way; what right hand gives should not be known to the left hand. The mail of Ms.Kiran Nadar is well meaning. But its cultural meaning is disappointing. 

PS: I, like many in the city, received a bunch of invitation cards from KNMA. Three shows in a row and all three are curated by one single person. I am sure you guys are on the way to the Guinness Book of World Records. 

JohnyML

NEWS

Shrine at IAF 2014

Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi as part of the India Art Fair 2014, presents the exquisite art works of a group of artists.  The gallery will showcase their works at Booth D3 and the artists whose works are on display are Anoli Perera, Fariba S Alam, Priyanka Dasgupta, Samanta Batra Mehta and Suchitra Gaholt.

The works are on view from 30th January to 2nd February 2014 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi.

Ambiguity in Landscapes

( Work by Parvathi Nayar)

Gallery Veda, Chennai will be showcasing the works of eminent artist Parvathi Nayar under the title- Ambiguity of Landscapes. This is a solo show of the latest works of the artist. 

Her art practices are centered on painting and drawing and conceptually they are rooted in ideas of narrative, at ways of looking and the privileging of sight. She explores the ideas of the daily narrative of our lives in this world through fragmentary, familiar and unfamiliar perspectives. All her works provide an obsessive attention to technique in the eventual resolution so that the subject is both the content and manner in which it is portrayed.

The exhibition will be on view from 10th February to 12th March 2014.

The Interior from Iran

( work on display)

Goethe Institute , Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai, presents a show of some exquisite photography works. The show is titled, ‘ the Interior: A Special Issue on Iran’ and displays some stunning still photographic works by 14 Iranian photographers, working in and outside Iran.

The Interior: a Special Issue on Iran will be on view till 18th February 2014.

Every Broken Moment, Piece by Piece

( Work by Sudarshan Shetty)

GallerySke, New Delhi presents ‘Every Broken Moment, Piece by Piece’, an exclusive art exhibition by Sudarshan Shetty. Sudarshan’s art works are based on varied subjects like mortality, sense of loss and broken structures. Creating familiar objects using diversified materials like recycled wood and ceramic, the display includes large-scale wooden sculptures, mixed-media pieces and a video.

Known for his large-sculptural installations and multi-media artworks, the artist is returning back to the capital after ten years with his recent exhibition. The works by the artist are all unique and never same. The video on display has been titled as ‘Waiting for others to arrive’. Divided into three different shots, the video presents the same scene in three different frames shot from the same camera angel. The video provides a sense of past, present and future within the same space with objects fading in and out.

The show is on view till 2nd March 2014.

( News Reports by Sushma Sabnis)

( All images sourced from Google for illustrative purposes only)