11 Apr 2017

Art News: Google doodle celebrates Jamini Roy's birth anniversary


The Google doodle today, 11th Apr, 2017, celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of Jamini Roy, with an image inspired by his Black Horse painting


The Google doodle today, 11th Apr, 2017, celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of Jamini Roy, with an image inspired by his Black Horse painting. Art Scene India

Jamini Roy (1887–1972) was a graduate from the Government College of Art, Kolkata, who gained recognition for his stylized paintings rooted in folk art traditions. The 1920s were remarkable for the search for identity on the creative front, and artists experimented with various subjects, themes, techniques and medium to express their artistic vision. Amidst this, Jamini Roy was drawn to the folk arts of Bengal, and simplified forms, while adopting bold, flat colours, and painted stories of ordinary men and women from villages, and other popular images inspired from the patua style.

“The appropriation of folk idioms manifested in various ways. There was a phase in which he adopted the calligraphic brush lines of Kalighat Patuas to create sophisticated forms. The austerity of lines only serves to highlight Roy’s superb control over brush. The lines drown lyrically and sometimes even sensuously with lampblack over white or pale gray background show not only vigour, but also the poetry latent in the human form. The paintings Baul and Woman Seated are excellent example of this style.” (1)

Jamini Roy – Mother and Child, oil on canvas, mid 1920. National Gallery of Modern Art collection,The Google doodle today, 11th Apr, 2017, celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of Jamini Roy, with an image inspired by his Black Horse painting. Art Scene India
‘Ramayana’ considered to be his magnum opus is spread across 17 canvases and is created in the Kalighat pata style with natural colors, using earth, chalk powder and vegetable colors instead of dyes. The complete “Ramayana” is on display today at Sarada Charan Das' residence "Rossogolla Bhavan" in Kolkata along with 8 other large scale originals. The Das residence harbors the largest private collection of Jamini Roy paintings with 25 of the master’s originals. (2) Many of his other works can be viewed in the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.

Jamini Roy received many awards including the Padma Bhushan in 1955, he passed away in 1972.

Roy has played a huge role in popularizing Indian art among the masses and his works are recognised widely with ease. He is perhaps, one of the most copied Indian artists and for that reason, often it is difficult to assess the originality of his works.


(1) http://www.ngmaindia.gov.in/sh-jamini-roy.asp#

(2) http://www.kcdas.co.in/sarada.php

6 Apr 2017

Art News: Anita Dube declared curator of Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018

Anita Dube declared curator of Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018

Anita Dube declared curator of Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018, Art News, Art Scene India
Kochi, March 29: Anita Dube, one of India’s most provocative and versatile contemporary artists, was announced here today as the curator for the fourth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) beginning December 2018. The selection is in keeping with the Biennale’s long-standing tradition of being an artist-led exhibition. 
The reveal – made by Culture Minister Shri A.K. Balan during the KMB 2016 closing ceremony at Durbar Hall Wednesday evening – followed the unanimous decision made by a high-powered panel of renowned artists and prominent personalities to bring Dube’s unique artistic insights and sensibilities to the Biennale – the largest celebration of contemporary art in South Asia. 
“Through three editions, the KMB has gained a reputation for being one of the most important exhibitions of its kind around the world. It is an honour and a very big challenge to be declared curator of this wonderful platform. I am delighted that the jurors thought I can deliver. I accept the responsibility with excitement and humility. It is early days yet and my thoughts will no doubt undergo several changes going forward, but I view this as an opportunity to do something special,” said Dube, who was present at the function.

Dube takes over from Sudarshan Shetty, whose vision for the third edition of India’s only Biennale saw 97 artists from 31 countries showcase their production – across a variety of forms, styles and disciplines – over a 108-day period starting 12/12/16. Spread out across 12 venues, KMB 2016 received more than six lakh visitors.

Based out of the National Capital Region, Dube is renowned for her conceptually rich, politically charged works. An art historian and critic by training and a visual artist in practice, she has been widely exhibited across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including at the first edition of the KMB in 2012. Dube’s practice uses found objects and industrial materials, photography and ‘word architecture’ to critique contemporary socio-political realities.

Her aesthetic idiom, in many ways, reflects her background as a member of the Indian Radical Painters and Sculptors Association – a short-lived but hugely influential collection of artists and art students who rebelled against what they perceived to be the commodification of art in India.

In fact, Dube’s selection comes nearly three decades after she wrote the manifesto of the group’s seminal exhibition ‘Questions and Dialogue’ held in 1987 in the western state of Gujarat – that called for an explicitly radical, socially and politically conscious approach to art making. The group focused on inexpensive materials and found objects to produce works that resisted commercialisation and connected with working-class audiences.

Describing Dube as a ‘thinking artist’, KMB co-founder Bose Krishnamachari said, “Anita’s sensitivity towards materials, incorporating everyday objects derived from informal, craft and industrial sources and spaces, is profound. As is her wordplay and use of mediums, gestures and imageries – all of which will make for varied experiences and resonances in a space as adaptive and accommodating as the Biennale. Her oeuvre features both knowledgeable consideration and skillful melding of the sensibilities and styles of abstractions with real, contemporary concerns. This will doubtless be reflected in her curatorial vision.”

Krishnamachari, who is also President of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) – the organisers of India’s only Biennale, was part of the ‘Artistic Advisory Committee’ that selected Dube as curator. The other panelists were KBF Secretary Riyas Komu, Velu Vishwanadhan, Sarat Maharaj, Ravi Agarwal, Dayanita Singh, Sadanand Menon, Kavita Singh and V. Sunil.

“Anita’s selection not only reinforces our commitment to having artists at the helm, but also our mission to address contemporary social-political-cultural concerns. Anita is a strong proponent of making art accessible to the public through effective political and social engagement. This is precisely what the Biennale tries to do,” Komu said.

Dube is also a board member at KHOJ, an international artists’ association she co-founded in 1997 in New Delhi. Over two decades, the initiative that began as a modest annual workshop has become one of the most important platforms shining a global spotlight on South Asian art, organising and hosting international ‘itinerant’ workshops, residencies and exhibitions.

Besides KMB 2012, she has been represented in various national and international biennales and festivals such as ‘Biennale Jogja XI’ (Indonesia, 2011), ‘Against Exclusion’ 3rd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art (2009), ‘iCon: India Contemporary’, Venice Biennale (Collateral event, 2005), ‘Yokohama Triennale’ (Japan, 2001) and the ‘7th Havana Biennial’ (Cuba, 2000).

Dube was also a participant in the groundbreaking 2009 exhibition, ‘Indian Highway’, an itinerant collective show curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Julia Peyton-Jones and Gunnar B. Kvaran, which represented the growing importance of the sub-continent’s creative panorama – especially the vibrancy of its contemporary art scene – and the economic, social and cultural developments in the region over the past 20 years.

14 Dec 2016

Interior Decor: Express Painting for Your Home

The BergerXP Indiblogger meet organized recently in Bangalore was an interesting experience that offered an opportunity to interact with other bloggers and to better understand the dynamics of house painting from market experts.

BergerXP, as the second largest paint company offers a wide range of products and services, along with a range of tools that automate the process of painting making it far more efficient and economical. Their tag line - faster, cleaner, better sounds promising to consumers like me who quake at the thought of having their home painted! Just imagine how nerve wracking it can be to visualise the furniture shifting, all that dust everywhere (during the sanding process when the existing layer of paint is scraped off), and finally having the coat of paint done on your walls. To put aside that amount of time and to have to live alongside the mess is a daunting thought!
BergerXP Indiblogger meet Bangalore, Interior decorating for your some, selecting paint, art consultant
Therefore, when Berger express painting explained that due to automated tools there is a 40-50% reduction in the time taken to paint a home and at comparative costs; it does appear to be an attractive proposition. The other advantage which stands out is the utilization of the sanding appliance which vacuums off the dust into a bag thereby cutting down on the amount of dust flying around. This, in fact, can be a boon to allergy sufferers and the elderly or those with immune compromised systems as the dust not only creates a mess, but can also trigger off asthma and allergic conditions.
BergerXP Indiblogger meet Bangalore, Interior decorating for your some, selecting paint, art consultant
The meet was also filled with activities offering hands on experience with sanding uneven surfaces to make them smooth as a preparatory stage prior to painting. Another activity involved composing an image around specific environmental themes and then painting with the BergerXP stainers and mixers. This was incredibly fun, but not easy, given that this had to be completed within twenty minutes, and involved mixing paints, and working with four other people simultaneously on the same piece of paper!
BergerXP Indiblogger meet Bangalore, Interior decorating for your some, selecting paint, art consultant
However, doing this made me realise how much I miss the entire process of painting and how therapeutic it can be, and perhaps this will motivate me to get back to my paints and brushes – not to have an art exhibition, but as a de-stressing activity. I will keep you posted on that :)

To know more about BergerXP, you can get detailed information here and you can also SMS them on the numbers listed on their website, so that their consultants can approach you about your painting requirements.

And I, meanwhile, hope to have at least one Textured 'Illusion' Wall’ done in my home and will let you know how that turns out!

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Berger Express Painting is a new age end-to-end painting solution provided by trained painters using automatic tools. It gives the consumer a faster, cleaner, better and hassle-free painting experience. The Express Service is provided by Berger Paints India and is executed by trained painters.

If you enjoyed reading this article, do share it using the social media widgets at the top and subscribe to receive regular updates from Art Scene India

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30 Nov 2016

Bharat Thakur's Foray in Art Commences in Bangalore


Bharat Thakur's Foray in Art Commences in Bangalore, The Space Between, Time and Space Art Gallery, Art News Bangalore, Artistic Yoga, Abstracts, Art Scene India
Yoga Guru Bharat Thakur with his painting
Bharat Thakur's art is an extension of his philosophy towards life and living, and simultaneously, it is an exploration of the self and the spiritual. Although non-figurative, the paintings hint at observed narratives and personal vignettes. In the current exhibition, The Space Between, the entire body of works are abstracts which have evolved significantly in the last couple of decades. And they have become more textural, layered, and non-representational.

There is a greater fluidity in the application of the paint and an increase in depth as well, which has brought about a rhythmic and lyrical quality to it. The overall composition has an intrinsic harmony, which is highly evident in many of the works on display, where the use of light as a divine and serene element gives it a mystic and tranquil touch. At the same time, the combination of colours and rapid strokes suggest an almost effervescent energy which appears to be spilling out from the canvas.The black and white series has a mysterious quality to it.
Bharat Thakur's Foray in Art Commences in Bangalore, The Space Between, Time and Space Art Gallery, Art News Bangalore, Artistic Yoga, Abstracts, Art Scene India
There is some restraint that Thakur now depicts in his recent works, which helps to take it to another level. A prolific painter, the immediacy of the medium in acrylic and the process of painting - applying paint with his hands lend a tactile quality to the canvas. A compulsion to paint for several hours on a daily basis, the practice is in fact meditative for him – an extension of his yoga practice.

Leonardo da Vinci said that "Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."And here, in the gallery, every work of Thakur is accompanied by a verse written by him - an evocative expression that draws the viewer in to explore both text and image.

The exhibition continues till 22nd Dec at Time and Space Art Gallery, Bangalore.

29 Nov 2016

Protect Your Home Interiors

Many of you are aware that I also write on art in interiors, decorating spaces, and discuss ideas on home décor. As part of this, I am always on the lookout for innovative products that are beautifully designed, can be utilized during the construction process or offer design and sustainable solutions to the consumer.
Protect Your Home Interiors, Pidilite Bloggers Meet at Acetech Bangalore, Dr Fixit Waterproofing Expert, Art Scene India
One of the issues that often comes up in every home is linked to water seepage and leakage, which can result in damp patches, mould spots and leaks in parts of our home. This can be an unfortunate situation due to inadequate waterproofing in buildings and houses. Waterproofing may sound like a mundane requirement or a chore that must be completed somehow. But, believe me it is a necessary step absolutely crucial during the stage of construction to ensure that your house remains waterproofed. Now when you are investing so much in constructing a house and doing up the interiors, apart from the financial commitment you are also investing time and effort in a home in which you and your loved ones will live for years. The last thing you want is a house that gets easily damaged due to leakage and seepage of water from the ceiling, walls or floor. It therefore makes sense to invest in a high quality waterproofing option right at the construction stage.
Protect Your Home Interiors, Pidilite Bloggers Meet at Acetech Bangalore, Dr Fixit Waterproofing Expert, Art Scene India
I often talk about how to buy and display art, how to build an art collection and tips on decorating with art and artefacts. Much of this is really interlinked with waterproofing as well. For instance, if any one of the surfaces that you have an artwork in contact with or in close proximity to is damp, it can be disastrous for your valuable art. And as you know, moisture and dampness can damage artworks irrevocably thereby affecting their investment and resale value.

Similarly, damp environs can be a huge issue for your interiors in general. Furniture, artefacts and accessories and more importantly the health of your family is also affected. Allergies and respiratory problems can multiply manifold in a damp environment, when mould can grow and spread diseases.

Waterproofing at the construction stage itself is the best way to deal with this problem. Ideally, waterproofing should be done when the building is under construction so that the foundation, ceiling, walls, floor, bathrooms and storage tanks are waterproofed appropriately. Also, while renovating remember to implement waterproofing. Again, if there is any seepage later on, waterproofing can still be done to fix the problem. Fortunately, it costs only a fraction of the total cost of the construction; therefore there is no excuse to not implement it.

It is important that you utilise the best quality waterproofing solutions offered by Dr. Fixit. Sub-standard products will not last for long and will cause more problems for you.
Protect Your Home Interiors, Pidilite Bloggers Meet at Acetech Bangalore, Dr Fixit Waterproofing Expert, Dr Fixit Mobile App, Art Scene India
You could also use the Dr. Fixit’s updated mobile application, a user friendly interface to find out what are the various options available to you, and in fact you can also get in touch with them on the contact details that are mentioned on the app itself.

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