Art for arts’ sake - The Big Picture

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

The Big Picture is a concerted effort that brings together 57 artists for a fund raising event in Bangalore. Organized by the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) the art exhibition presents a wide range of paintings, mixed media works and photographs by young and upcoming, and a few senior artists as well.
According to Arundhati Ghosh, the Deputy Director of IFA, “the idea of organizing an art show as a fund raiser germinated last year and then Abhishek Poddar offered to curate it.” This happens to be the Foundation’s first art exhibition. In fact, in a tremendous show of solidarity, the artists have come forward to donate, in full or in part, the sale proceeds of their works for IFA. Incidentally, IFA is an organization that provides grants for art and culture activities and has been supporting independent research and teaching institutions, cultural and development organizations, musicians, visual artists and filmmakers amongst a host of other professionals in related fields.


For this particular event, well known artists such as Gulammohammed Sheikh, N S Harsha, Jayashree Chakravarty and Mithu Sen, and photographers such as Raghu Rai, Shahid Datawala, and Navroze Contractor are just a few names that comprise the vast list. All the works have been priced under Rs 5 lakhs. The online catalogue offers a promising line-up of works with a significant section devoted to prints.
While, many of the artists may not be a familiar sight on the Bangalore art scene, they have been exhibiting elsewhere. “These are outstanding works by some of our most talented artists and very well priced too keeping in mind the economic situation,” writes Abhishek Poddar in his curatorial note.
The exhibition although happening in Bangalore is also being showcased online and as Arundhati describes it, “It is a national show with a local physical presence.” Here’s hoping that art connoisseurs come forward to support art for arts’ sake.

(The Big Picture will be held between April 5 - 8, 2009, at WelcomArt Gallery, ITC Windsor and from April 10 - 15, 2009, (Sunday closed) at Gallery Sumukha, 24/10, BTS Depot Road, Wilson Garden, Bangalore).
(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Elephant on the wall

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

As one turns towards Opus from the BDA circle, an elephant dressed in pink and blue sneakers grins cheekily, striking an incongruent note amidst the traffic snarl. This rendition on the wall is the work of graffiti artist Ivan Germon. Ivan, from France has been spray painting on public walls for the last sixteen years. As a teenager, with a spray can in hand, he began leaving his signature on walls at night. At one point after his arrest and subsequent trial, the situation altered considerably and he was invited to paint on designated walls in France. Ivan also does paintings – acrylic on canvas and illustrations when he is not doing graffiti.

Image coutesy Opus

Ivan has modified his modus operandi and now, very often, he paints on large rolls of paper and then sticks them on the wall. Most of his paintings are of cartoon or popular characters, keeping in mind the cultural milieu of the place. For instance, he has spray painted Chacha Choudhary and Shaktiman in India. For the wall on Opus, for which he was incidentally invited to paint upon, he chose a brightly dressed up elephant which was bound to attract a lot of attention, and the slogan he has used is derived from Horn OK Please, seen so commonly on the back of trucks. He feels that these are elements that the common man can identify with and relate to easily. He signs off as Rock, and has taken the trouble to sign in Kannada as well.

According to Ivan, nobody would notice an ugly wall on the street, but, a brightly coloured one will definitely catch the eye. In big cities, where ones existence can go unnoticed, a signature or some writing on the wall is a way to get attention, and that is what most graffiti artists are doing when they paint on a wall in the darkness of the night.

Incidentally, what is graffiti? Letters or images that have been marked, scratched or painted upon any property are termed as graffiti. In most countries defacing public walls is considered vandalism of property and is an illegal activity. However, in the recent past, graffiti as an art form has emerged slowly, although it continues to be a topic of debate.

So much to see

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

A Sculptural Lineage
A sculpture show by Chennai based artist V.R Raviram previewed last week and presents his recent series titled A Sculptural Lineage. A majority of his works resonate with folk art elements and traces of Cholamandal style. The sculptures appear to be heavily influenced by renowned sculptors P.V.Janikiram (his uncle) and also S Nandagopal, but probably this has more to do with the Cholamandal aesthetics that experimented with frontal sculpture and elaborate embellishment on the metal surface.

Traditional motifs, mythological figures, animals and birds form the themes in copper. There is a small set of works that are radically different from the conventional decorative mode and are meant to be more contemporary. A simple and minimal approach has been adopted here. It could not have been easy for Raviram to break away completely from his old style that he has perfected over the years. One looks forward to his new works and see how he balances the two diametrical opposite styles and sensibilities.

(The exhibition continues till March 25 at Gallery Mementos, Bangalore – 1)

Myth and movement
The other exhibition Myth and movement is a thematic show that exhibits the recent works of four artists Seema Kohli, Ramesh Gorjala, Atul Talukdar and Dimpy Menon and explores “ideas of myths and cosmic energies and movements of forms in space”.
Seema, a self taught artist indulges in a quest for the spiritual and self. Her elaborately executed canvasses are rich in details with every inch of the canvas covered meticulously. Repeated patterns and motifs add an element of design while gold leaf embellishment gives it an exotic look. Ramesh presents traditional myths and folk arts with a contemporary touch. Kalamkari motifs form the backdrop in most of his works.

Dimpy’s sculptures are minimalistic in their approach, and lyrical and graceful in their form with emphasis on the finished surface. Atul, an artist from Bangladesh also presents bronze sculptures of human figures such as musicians and dancers. There is a distinct earthy appeal to his works.

(The exhibition continues till March 31 at Mahua Art Gallery, Bangalore – 80.)

For a good cause
Incidentally, another art exhibition A Wonderful World, a benefit for the New Delhi-based NGO Four Steps (a research, training and rehabilitation centre for Children with special needs) will be held in Bangalore. Works by artists such as Jamil Naqsh, Amiya Bhattacharjee, Kamar Alam and Seema Kohli amongst others will be part of the show to be held between March 18th - 20th, 2009 at Olive Beach.

Published in Bangalore Mirror

Critical acclaim or popular choice

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Recently, a young artist, while showing me images of his recent works said that everyone liked his paintings but nobody ever buys them! This may sound strange, but it does happen. When it comes to appreciating art and buying it to put it up on our walls we behave as if we have a split personality. What may appeal to us from a critical perspective may not suit our walls at all. Why? How many of us are willing to display art that graphically portrays themes such as war or poverty, or one that has a social message? And, in case it is a realistic portrayal of violence or the downtrodden, or, for that matter nudes, how comfortable would we feel in hanging it up on our living room walls! Is it hypocrisy? Not really. Our homes are our sanctuary, a haven that shields us from the harsh realities around us. It is not surprising then that in this personal space we yearn for all things beautiful, including art.

To give an illustration, you may have seen Raghu Rai’s photographs taken in the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy. The disturbing sight of mutilated foetuses and other equally graphic images, once seen can never be forgotten. These photographs have received widespread critical acclaim and have served a valuable purpose in drawing the world’s attention to a calamity that should have never happened in the first place. But as art in the drawing room, it is an unlikely choice.

Art that borders on the non-aesthetic and brings with it associations that are painful or unpleasant may become a part of a connoisseur’s prized collection but will have trouble finding acceptance from the average viewer. Conventional themes such as nature or pleasantly coloured abstracts are popular with buyers. A viewer, when looking at them, feels happy and contented. There is no sense of alarm, discomfort, revulsion or sadness when one looks at them. Most people believe in having a positive atmosphere around them, and this is often reiterated through art as well. Therefore all said and done, our sensibilities our still old fashioned when it comes to buying art for our homes. Fortunately, there are artists who believe in creating art that stems from their beliefs and is thought provoking, and there are connoisseurs who appreciate them. If it weren’t for them art would mean just a pretty painting and Indian art would be nowhere on the international map.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

A visit to NGMA, Bangalore

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is nestled in a green alcove off the main road away from the clamor of the traffic. Readers will remember that NGMA opened in Bangalore recently amidst controversies that invoked the ire of local artists and other members of the art community.
At the moment NGMA houses approximately 500 exhibits that are spread across a corridor, tiny rooms and large spacious halls that span two floors. You need at least half a day to see the entire space. The exhibits have been displayed - classified into broad categories - according to different time periods, art schools and by artists. One can see paintings by Raja Ravi Verma, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, the Tagore brothers and Rabindranath Tagore and a large number of Modern and Contemporary artists. While, there has been some effort made to display the older works in various zones, the Modern and Contemporary art section appears a little scattered and it could be organized better.

As one enters the gallery door, one can see old photographs, miniature art from the Rajput and Pahari schools depicting court scenes, and there are several graphic prints as well. A portrait sketch of Rajiv Gandhi done by Mukul Dey in 1945 is on display. Oil paintings by European artists who travelled to India during the late 18th to mid-19th century have also been showcased here. Ghats of Benaras, dancing girls and fauna and flora that represented exotic India form popular themes.


Ravi Verma’s Lady in Moonlight and Portrait of a Lady are two of his works that find a place here. In one of the large halls one comes across a small section dedicated to photographs (mostly black and white) by renowned photographers Raghu Rai and Dayanita Singh – the Masterjee series. Amongst the other works, one comes across a pair of terracotta pigs by N Pushpamala, small watercolour works by N S Harsha, a striking landscape by K K Hebbar, works by S G Vasudev, Yusuf Arakkal and Ravikumar Kashi.

M F Hussain’s paintings inspired by Mother Teresa, landscapes in muted shades by Ram Kumar and an intensely dark work by S H Raza, colourful abstracts by V S Gaitonde stand out due to familiar names. Ritual Image, a complex piece by Nandagopal and Form, a minimal bronze piece by Sankho Choudhuri present interesting dimensions in sculptures. Jamini Roy’s stylized forms and Amrita Sher-Gill’s paintings form a fairly large collection. The museum is a good place to get familiar with art and artists.

According to the official website of NGMA it also conducts educational and cultural activities; I hope that in Bangalore, too, it will take on such a role soon. Having started off on a wrong foot, it desperately needs to re-invent its image. It is imperative that NGMA garners local support and involves active participation from the various members of the art community in the city.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Essence of art

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Crimson Art Resource organized an exhibition of drawings and paintings titled ‘A tribute to Adimoolam’ a year after he passed away. The display comprising of twenty works sourced from a few art collectors (and from the gallery) presented a small but personal collection which gave insights into some of his early works as well. According to Naozar Daruwalla, the gallery owner, the intention of the show was to present an intimate compilation rather than aim at a large but scattered one. One of the sketches, a life study was done in the 1960s when Adimoolam himself was a student. The drawings were mainly of musicians, horses and still life. The few oil paintings that were on display were landscapes done in his characteristic impressionist style – broad brushstrokes that create a soothing ambience. Adimoolam was known as much for his drawings as for his abstract naturescapes. The exhibition has officially ended, but viewers may still be able to see the works at the gallery in The Hatworks Boulevard.

The other exhibition that previewed a few days ago at Gallery Mementos features drawings by 38 artists from across the country. Curated by Giridhar Khasnis, the show ‘The root of everything’ presents a good cross-section of artists across different generations and varying styles. From artists such as Paritosh Sen, Ganesh Pyne, Jogen Choudhury, Shuvaprasanna, Vivan Sundaram, Ravi Kumar Kashi, Suchender amongst others, there is a wide range of creativity on exhibit. In most of the drawings the artists have followed a similar style and theme as they do in their paintings. The exhibition presents drawing as the essence of all arts, and one finds a wonderful spectrum of interpretations by the various artists – portrait sketches, animal forms and other equally mesmerizing compositions that are rendered skillfully. The few odd paintings that are on display create a jarring effect amongst the exhibition that is otherwise primarily dedicated to drawings. Overall, a must see for art aficionados.

On a sad note, the sudden demise of R. K. Dugar, owner of Gallery Mementos, last week a few days after the exhibition preview has been a shock to many of us. May his soul rest in peace.

(The exhibition continues till February 28 at Gallery Mementos, The Chancery, Lavelle Road, Bangalore)

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

On a positive note

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

The art market is hit hard and there is no getting away from it at the moment. But, all this talk about the recession can be quite depressing and I sincerely hope that this phase gets over as soon as possible.
While people are still buying art that is affordable, sales of mid and high end segments are highly affected. Buyers are now treading cautiously, and rightly so. Recently at the preview of an art exhibition one of the artists mentioned how thankful he was that he had not resigned from his day job. However, when the same artist said that he had slowed down the pace of his work as the demand was considerably less, it was reassuring. In my opinion some of the best works will emerge in the current phase. The furious frenzy to produce more works during the boom period will now be replaced by a more spaced output. Artists will have more breathing space and time to follow their creative instincts rather than follow popular demands. This is a good time for them to be experimental, dabble with different media, and come out with smaller works and maybe even an affordable line of works.

Collectors should take stock of their collections and think of getting it catalogued if it is sufficiently large and mark out the works which they would like to sell off. One should also consider insuring the more expensive or rare artworks. Unfortunately, insurance of art is still not a very popular trend in India, and very few companies are offering this. But, one could look around to find a policy that suits ones needs.
For buyers this is a good time to pick up quality works at competitive prices. Those who don’t know much about art but happen to be reading this could use the opportunity to get familiar with the art world. Those of you, who are looking at buying art at this point, should begin with a small budget. This is also a good time to network with people from the art fraternity and to attend art shows and other events. In short be positive and use the time constructively.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Wishful Thinking

By Nalini S Malaviya

Recession and a slowdown in the art mart not withstanding, one hopes that as the year 2009 unfolds, it ushers in a new era filled with happiness and prosperity for all. In the art world too, one would like to see a few changes specific to our city. Some of the things that I would like to see are:

Art Museums

The one thing that Bangalore sorely lacks is museums and other institutions dedicated to showcasing art. Apart from the Venkatappa Art Gallery and the Chitrakala Parishath there are hardly any other public spaces that display permanent art exhibitions. The world over cultural centers such as museums and heritage sites are carefully preserved and promoted as tourist centers. Local citizens and school children are also actively encouraged to visit them and these form important learning centers. After being the IT and BT capital, why can’t Bangalore be the art capital of India?

Fine Art Institutes

Again, the number of colleges and institutes that provide higher education in fine arts is limited here. There is a huge demand and need to have world class institutes that can provide education in fine arts and affiliated courses. What is also required are professional or short term courses that can cater to a larger audience.

Appreciate Art

There are so many people that I come across who would like to know more about art. The gap between the art fraternity and the common man is huge, and there should be ways to address it. Short courses, lectures, workshops on various aspects of art such as history, major art movements, painting techniques and genres, and other elements should exist. All these can lead to a greater understanding of art.

Avant-garde Art

More exhibitions by well known artists and contemporary artists who are known for their avant-garde and cutting edge experiments should be held here. Exposure to different forms of art brings in a wider understanding and keeps one updated with the latest trends, and even fads.
Art Therapy

Art has an immense therapeutic potential and there are leading institutes in the world that provide courses in art therapy. Unfortunately, this is neither recognized not practiced here. Having courses that are tailored specifically towards therapy or workshops that provide key information can prove beneficial to a number of people. Art can be utilized as an effective tool to alleviate stress and in an urban environment such as ours, there are bound to be many takers.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Art bytes

(Nalini S Malaviya)

Narrative Movement is a group of artists from Shantiniketan who is organizing its first show in Bangalore. Gopa Sikder, Kousik Roy, Monoj Poddar, Pratyusha Mukherjee, Ram Kishu, Subrata Mete and Taslima Akter form the seven core members who are currently studying in their final year Masters programme in Fine Arts. These young artists bring in a raw energy in their paintings that are mostly figurative in genre, where some images are dark and surreal, while others romanticise spaces. What one notices is that most of the works involve a complexity in narration and go beyond the superficial decorative content. What is also interesting is that all these works are very different from the traditional format that one is familiar with from this region. It is good to see young artists exploring diverse themes, concepts and media.

Gopa’s imagery is surreal with animal forms overlapping with elements from nature in a vividly colourful world. Kousik’s imagery is dark and intense on one hand, whereas in “Innerview” he presents bright details of a bustling world reflected on the lenses of a pair of spectacles. Monoj’s mixed media works on canvas and board are intensely compelling with their complex narratives and overlapping forms. Pratyusha’s dreamscapes create a fantasy world around architectural spaces. Ram’s works depict figures from everyday life, while Subrata’s figures are also inspired from everyday life but involve a more multifarious approach. Taslima presents interiors and spaces in a romanticised form. The group presents a refreshing range of art that also happens to be affordably priced.

The exhibition was held at Gallery Mementos, The Chancery, Bangalore.

There is yet another gallery - Inspirations that will open its doors on January 4th with an art show that will feature paintings by 12 Indian artists. The works were in fact created at an artists’ camp held last week between 24th to 28th December, at the gallery premises. The art camp was inaugurated with a great deal of zest and the gallery appears to be well stocked with prints, reproductions, traditional paintings and other art.

The film ‘Rang Rasiya’ based on the legendary artist Raja Ravi Verma, a 19th century painter is set to release on January 23. To create interest in the film, a nationwide art competition has been organized on a massive scale. Anybody over the age of 18 can participate in it and there is more than Rs 25 lakhs in prize money involved. Details are available on http://www.rangrasiya.com/. Incidentally, the competition will be held on an all India basis with regional centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Bhopal.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Art for All

(Nalini S Malaviya)

Last week’s column on reproductions of paintings as an affordable form of art appears to have touched a chord with many readers. Some of them wrote in to say that even though such paintings were not original their beauty and aesthetic appeal was unmatched. Very true. And, especially when one considers the prices. Today, despite the recession and the slowdown in the art market, prices of paintings are beyond the reach of many people. That’s also explains the popularity of an event such as the Chitra Santhe, the annual art bazaar that is held in and around Chitrakala Parishath for the last few years. Incidentally, this year’s Santhe will be held in late January, 2009 and not the last Sunday of the year as was the tradition up till now. The USP of the Santhe lies in the fact that is an open air informal art mart that is easily accessible to all. There is a wide variety and all kinds of art – from fairly good to downright appalling. There have been numerous discussions about having some kind of quality control, but apparently with that many participants and the Santhe atmosphere that is aimed at, it is not a practical option.
In any case, let’s face it, how many people are willing to walk into an art gallery just to look at art? Most people are intimidated by the gallery environs and sometimes the attitude of the staff also doesn’t help. Well, the Santhe does offer an excellent opportunity to get familiar with art over the day and then decide what one wants to buy. It might also be a good idea to have art appreciation lectures or seminars in conjunction with the Santhe, but most probably the logistics of it might prove to be daunting. Still, as an idea it has it merits, it will help prospective buyers gain some basic knowledge about art before making an informed decision.


The group show by artists from Delhi and Rajasthan that previewed last week had some interesting paintings. The large panels by Bhagat Singh were quite popular with the guests, beautifully rendered and pleasing. Immensely symmetrical and intricately patterned - the overall effect was very agreeable and soothing. Madan Meena’s abstracts with matrices of golden and silver circles also created a harmonious impact. Titled Lotus ponds the works were minimal in their approach. Manoj Kachangal abstracts were colourful and appeared to be inspired by some of Raza’s works.
Both Ritu and Anoop Kamath’s paintings were figurative but very different from one another. Where Ritu’s paintings have a greater visual appeal, Anoop’s works seemed to portray sardonic humour and a satirical touch.

(The exhibition is on till January 7 at Crimson Art Resource, The Hatworks Boulevard, Bangalore)

Not Original

(Nalini S Malaviya)

A client liked a painting she saw in a magazine and wanted it reproduced in a larger size. That set me thinking about copies (not multiples, as in lithographs, etc) or reproductions of a painting, which works out as an affordable option.
Reproductions of paintings done by famous artists have always been a popular choice with people looking at dressing their walls. One of the major reasons this is so much in vogue is because it is an affordable form of art. It costs only a fraction of the original. Obviously, there is little or no investment value from a financial angle in such paintings, but they have an immense decorative value. After all, how many people can afford a Picasso, Van Gogh, Rembrandt or a Raja Ravi Verma. In such cases there are three options - an offset print on paper, a digital print on canvas, or an oil reproduction

An offset print which is usually done on paper often tends to look tacky, and is not a good idea for dressing the interiors of residences. Small offices or low-budget reception areas tend to put these on their walls, and it is one way to add colour to drab walls.
Digital prints of paintings on canvas by Raja Ravi Verma and Haldenkar are very popular and have the advantage that these are available in various sizes. Being digitally reproduced, the colours and tonal values are matched closely with the original and give a similar look and feel as the original work. The prices also begin from somewhere around Rs.3000 or so, and therefore work out as an extremely affordable option. ‘Glow of Hope’ (also called Lady with the Lamp) a painting by Haldenkar always seems to be well in demand. Similarly, Raja Ravi Verma’s paintings are also much sought after. To reproduce these paintings in the digital format there are copyright and legal issues involved, and one should buy only from a reputed source. The good thing is that these can be printed on demand, and in the size that you want. Digital prints are of much better quality now, with better quality inks that last longer.

An oil reproduction is a wonderful way to enjoy a work of art by a famous artist. Unfortunately, oil reproductions are also fraught with issues, as fake art is a huge problem in the world of art. Therefore, be aware that there could be legalities involved and ensure you buy from a gallery that has copyrights in place. Reproductions are available from prices as low as Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 or more, so go ahead and own a work of art.

Carved in Stone

(Nalini S Malaviya)

A magnificent statue of Krishna catches the eye as one walks into the room to meet Sudarshan Sahoo, the sculptor from Orissa. Intricately carved in stone with extraordinary detailing and ornamentation, it is a beautiful work of art that reminds one of statues seen in temples in many parts of the country. In Bangalore to showcase his recent sculptures, Sudarshan Sahoo explains the finer nuances behind the art of stone carving.

The well known sculptor has created a ‘Shilpgram’ an arts and crafts village in Bhuvaneshwar that offers vocational training in sculpting to students and children.
The 1939 born sculptor has dedicated his entire life to revive and promote the traditional craft of carving statues from stone. Sahoo is a recipient of the National Award and the Padmashree amongst numerous other honours that he has received for his contribution to arts and crafts.

“Selection of stone such as sandstone, red or green stone, granite or sometimes wood is carefully done to suit the sculpture in mind. Every stone has a different characteristic, for instance, red stone lends beautifully to and reveals different tonalities at various depths and creates a beautiful effect”, explains Sahoo. A basic design is translated on the medium and the intricate detailing is mostly done ad hoc, as the work evolves.

Stone carving is a difficult craft that involves a lot of painstaking effort and happens to be extremely time consuming as well. “A small statue can take up to ten months with about 5 people working on it, whereas a larger work can take almost 2 to 4 years,” describes Sahoo. The ornamentation which appears as mere decorative detailing in the first instance, on a closer look reveals mythological tales and fables that have been engraved with utmost care. His statues of Buddha have travelled far and wide – many of them have been installed in Japan. “In Japan they love the serenity and unique features of Buddha that I am able to capture in my statues,” he elaborates with pride. His sculptures also stand out for their museum quality finish.

In the forthcoming exhibition there are Ganeshas, Buddha statues, Nandi and Apsaras or the dancing girls. It will also have a massive 9 feet tall and 12 feet long chariot that is truly a work of art. Figures of deities, geometrical and other traditional motifs are used extensively to decorate the sculptures. Sahoo and his entire family are now working on a mammoth 110 ton piece of granite to create a statue of Lord Parasnath which will stand at 32 feet height when complete.

The richness of our heritage is beautifully reflected in these statues. As Sahoo puts it, “people talk about the precision in Swiss watches, but look at our traditional crafts it is full of fine and precise work.” He goes on, “We want more people to come and see the kind of work that our artisans are capable of.” True, it is important to appreciate efforts that go towards conservation of our cultural traditions and to promote them in every way.

The exhibition will be held till Dec 19 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Random notes

(Nalini S Malaviya)

Miami Art Fair
The International Asian Contemporary art fair ‘Art Asia’ will be held at Miami later this week and Bangalore based artist Ravikumar Kashi will be showing his recent works there. Ravi is known for his experimentation with various mediums and in this fair he presents his photographs from a series called Snanidhi Series. In the past, Ravi has worked with new media and assemblages that have dealt with issues of urbanization and consumerism. In fact, his paintings used images from media to depict global issues that are equally relevant from a local context. Ravi has a Masters degree in printmaking from MS University, Baroda, and in English from Mysore University.

(Art Asia will be held from December 4 – 7, 2008 at Miami)

A ‘Modern’ show
Last week I attended the preview of an exhibition by Modern artists - FN Souza, SH Raza, Akbar Padamsee and Ram Kumar. There is a single Bindu work and a few other abstracts by Raza, nudes by Souza, and two works by Ram Kumar. The one in muted shades is a beautiful piece of art, and its photograph just does not do justice to the original. Raza, who now lives in Paris, is famous for his paintings that centre round a circle or Bindu as a creative energy force that permeates the entire universe, while Souza’s paintings are intense and known for their strong bold lines. All the four artists are well known names in the Indian art world and have also received widespread global recognition.

(The exhibition continues till 16th December at Gallery Mementos, The Chancery, Lavelle Road, Bangalore.)

India Art Summit 2009
The first art summit was held earlier this year in Delhi and had elicited mixed response from art connoisseurs. However, most visitors had agreed that it offered an excellent platform for networking and it was high time that India had its own art fair that could be at par with international levels.
The dates for the next art summit have been announced and it will be held from 19th - 22nd of August 2009 at New Delhi. This year too will see Seminars and Talks with speakers including curators, critics, artists, collectors and representatives from museums and galleries. Plans are on to create a sculpture park in order to offer participants and visitors an art fair like ambience. Art films, education series and social events will also be held for visitors. One hopes the summit is able to garner support from all quarters given the current economic crisis affecting all markets.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Portraits

The other day someone wrote in asking for information on artists who can make a portrait from a photograph. Frankly, there are very few people who now opt for this. Portraits were more common in the days when full colour photography was in its nascent stages. Remember, any palace you visited you could find numerous members of the royal family staring you down. Most of them were characterised by the feature that wherever you went their eyes seemed to be following you around. It gave one a strange and eerie feeling.
These days, very few people have their portraits painted, although there are a few who get a late family member’s portrait done. In this case a photograph is used as a reference to create an exact replica of the photograph, or it is used to create a portrait which gives an impression as if the subject had posed for it.
Portrait painting is a specialised field and requires considerable skill to ensure a resemblance to the subject. As this falls in the realm of realism, the artist does not have any scope to experiment with his creativity. Nowadays, there are many ways to ensure an exact reproduction of the subject, but in the olden days, artists had to rely completely on their skill to do so. John Singleton Copley was one such painter who was well known in the latter half of 18th century. He was famous for his realistic looking portraits that sparkled with the illusion of real silk, lace, pearls, skin and hair.


Metal Art

One of the few art exhibitions that I visited last week was one at Chitrakala Parishath where these larger than life sized metallic statues gleamed in the sunlight. A Red Indian with a spear and a rifle stood menacingly with his feet apart, while a Spiderman was perched on the rocky surface. These were the creations of Ilyas Ahmed, a welding engineer who now turns metal scrap into sculptures. Ilyas began his artistic tryst by taking a generator apart and putting it back together as a small statue. Now, this has turned into a passion and he actually buys scrap to create these pieces. Here and there one could recognize nuts, bolts, and chains which were used to form the metallic chassis.
The metallic parts were treated in order to prevent rusting.
Toy sized motorcycles and hybrid creatures that probably abound in the gaming videos and popular fictional characters from films were carefully displayed on shelves and pedestals. The sculptures that ranged in price from Rs 2,500 to 5 lakhs were seen to be attracting a lot of visitors. What stood out in these sculptures was the excellent design and workmanship.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Is this is a good time to buy art?

(Nalini S Malaviya)

A couple of readers wanted to know if this is a good time to buy art. Well, if you are not suffering from a liquidity crunch, then the answer is yes, this is definitely a good time to pick up some serious art. The art market is going through a critical phase and it will be a while before it stabilises. But, here are a few good reasons to buy art,
* For the first time in many years prices are coming close to being reasonable.
* Quite a few galleries and dealers are now willing to negotiate prices.
* Due to a cash crunch some investors are letting go of quality works at lowered prices.
* For the same reason, good works are likely to come up at auctions
* Galleries are likely to focus on better quality works in order to woo the discerning buyer.
* Artists are likely to slow down their frenzied pace (remember, a few years ago artists were accused of resorting to mass producing their works) and focus once again on quality.

The trend appears to be shifting somewhat from the investment aspect of art to its aesthetic or intrinsic value. It therefore appears that decorative and affordable art will do well in the interim period, but serious collectors are on the lookout for excellent works.

As a buyer, for you, an ideal work of art is one that can combine the aesthetic and financial investment components. To buy a work, one can either do a systematic research and zero in on to the artist or even the art work, or one can visit ongoing art shows and pick one that appeals visually and also suits ones wallet. The former has more chances of being a winner in the long term, as it is backed by appropriate research.

Art lovers not welcome!
In closing I wanted to mention that on one hand most galleries are cribbing about the current situation where sales are hit and even footfalls are reduced, on the other hand one hears of instances where walk-ins are actively discouraged. Last week it happened to me as well, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It also made me wonder, what about the enthusiastic buyer who decides to check out the art gallery round the corner, hoping to find something suitable for that empty space above the sofa? Does he then turn back after encountering sullen staff, wishing he had never ventured into such hallowed surroundings? Well, one hopes these are isolated cases and don’t become a popular trend.

Bangalore Art Shows

Nalini S Malaviya

Going by the number of exhibitions being held in the city it is hard to believe that the art market has slowed down at all! One reason that could explain the quantum of shows is that most of them must have been planned for and organised well in advance. But, what is interesting is that many of them also claim to be selling quite a few artworks.
Readers will remember that most auctions of Indian art as well as Western art have been performing miserably in the last few weeks. Many prominent art galleries too have indicated that their sales are affected. But, auctions reports alone cannot be used as a sole measure of the overall state of the art market. In fact, one notices that there is a section of people who is continuing to buy art for its intrinsic value. And, also, sale of affordable art is on the rise. Anything under a lakh or so is an attractive proposition for buyers. What is emerging is that buyers are much more aware now and they are able to distinguish, evaluate and compare quality with prices. This will hopefully result in better quality art at reasonable prices.

At one of the exhibitions that I visited last week, a large painting priced at Rs 90,000 or thereabouts was already sold. This particular work caught my attention with its subtle wit and humour. It features a cow wearing headphones and apparently snoozing, while listening to a crow seated on its hump and ‘crowing’ into a microphone. Part of a group show by four artists (Jiban Biswas, Mintu Malick, Ashis Mondal and Nageshwar Sharma) from Bengal, one saw pleasant works that focused mainly on aesthetics. This exhibition concludes today at Chitrakala Parishath.

Incidentally, there were three other exhibitions going on at the Parishath - one of them was held by students from CAVA University, Mysore and featured their paintings and sculptures. The effect was a little crowded as there were too many works, but I quite liked a few works in stone and a couple of paintings. Hopefully, these students will do a better job of media and PR next time, because as far as I could see not many people knew about their show.
Another exhibition by a group of artists (Sumita Maity, Arpita Chandra, Pradip Sau and Anjan Kumar) from Bengal appeared to be slightly disjointed, but had a few good works.
The last exhibition that was going on was of watercolours inspired by nature, but it was a little too garish for me. I feel the beauty of the medium lies in its delicate, understated look which was completely missing. These three exhibitions that I have mentioned have already ended last week.

Published in Bangalore Mirror

Tale of two cities

(Nalini S Malaviya )

Last month I was in Ahmedabad and could not help but compare the art scene between the two cities. Quantitatively speaking, the number of galleries and art shows that happen in Bangalore is much higher than what one sees in Ahmedabad.
Visitors from Mumbai and Delhi find Bangalore lagging behind on the art front, and I have to say the same for Ahmedabad. The level of awareness and interest in art appears to be low and one of the reasons that I could correlate it with is that there is hardly any coverage about art related events in the media. And, this is despite the fact that a number of well known artists live there.
Media plays an important role in reporting news and creating awareness about local and global issues. But, it has an equally important role to play in providing the necessary leverage in promoting fine arts and culture. We are fortunate in Bangalore to have a supportive media who has been giving widespread coverage to art exhibitions and related topics. It is another matter that often the kind of art that gets promoted is questionable. While, in Ahmedabad, gallerists and other people that I talked to, cribbed about the dearth of art critics and journalists.

I must talk about one of the exhibitions that I visited at Marvel art gallery, a leading art space in Ahmedabad that centred around a contemporary theme along with an unusual execution. ‘Nagarnama II’ - Nationalism to Internationalism featured some humungous sized canvasses by a young artist Harshil Patel. More than the paintings themselves the two huge works running almost the entire length of the gallery, and the entire floor covered with charcoal bricks gave it an interesting dimension. Exploring the theme of rapid urbanization and the corresponding change in cultural identities, the paintings portrayed the altered skylines. This combined with an installation and a collage of photographs; the gallery space was radically altered and created a special ambience. The feeling one had of standing on the pitch black road and viewing colourful artworks around me was remarkable.

In closing I would like to mention that on November 8, the art auction house Emami Chisel will hold its next auction of Indian art. According to their press release, the focus will now be on contemporary works and a lot of young artist's works will be put up for auction this time. Apart from painting, drawing and printmaking there will also be sculpture, photography and a two Channel video projection. The online auction starts on November 3rd and will merge and continue with the live auction on 8th November.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Art in the virtual world

(Nalini S Malaviya)

In this electronic age where technology has pervaded every aspect of our lives how can art be left behind? The virtual art fraternity is replete with artists, galleries, collectors and connoisseurs. An online presence is a highly effective tool to network with members with common interests. While social networking sites have made news for a variety of reasons, there are now a growing number of networking sites dedicated to art. Online networking provides an edge over peers, offers a much larger reach and is an effective PR and marketing medium. All this at minimal costs (or often free). Another major advantage is the rapidity with which information is exchanged resulting in faster turnaround time.

Earlier the trend was more towards setting up websites to showcase artworks and art related services. Whereas now, blogs have emerged as a popular and free-to-use platform that offers similar, although somewhat limited facilities as a website, but is a great way to create an online presence. Easy to use and even easier to update and maintain, blogs can be used for marketing oneself and to reach out to a wider audience.

In the virtual world, where geographic or regional boundaries do not exist it is easy to relate to likeminded people. Dedicated social sites on art offer an exclusive platform to different players from the art community. Exchange of knowledge, expertise, views, statistics and the latest buzz allow valuable interaction between members.
Similarly, online newsletters and publications enhance exposure to art related events and news from across the world. While all these provide a valuable platform to the artist, they also offer the buyer wider access to information.

As we can see there are numerous benefits in being active on an online forum, but there are a few disadvantages that one should be aware of. These may not be specific to art related sites but it helps to go over them. As online identities can be misleading, it is important to check out the credentials of the person you are interacting with. Similarly, when any financial transaction is involved one should be extra cautious about use of credit card or divulging personal details. With that in mind sometimes a moderated networking site works out better.
In any case, it is always advisable to follow Netiquette when expressing oneself. So, go ahead and create a virtual presence to either showcase your art or to learn more about art.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Signature style and contemporary art

(Nalini S Malaviya)

Most readers who visit art shows on a regular basis, will be able to identify the artist when they come across works by well known names. For instance, when you look at paintings by SH Raza, FN Souza or even Suhas Roy, chances are you will recognize the artist immediately. Artists often tend to create an identity of their own over the years. In terms of medium, style, genre or even theme the artist’s work can becomes recognizable.
Raza’s geometric abstracts and the ‘bindu’, or the delicate, ethereal beauty of Suhas Roy’s women, particularly from the ‘Radha’ series – these are characteristic of the artist’s style. Most modern painters developed a signature style that they kept refining over the years. And, very often then not the artist is recognized by art created in his signature style.

Then, there are a few artists one comes across locally who become proficient in a particular theme or style, and if they experiment it is only within their comfort zone. Having perfected a particular form of art with a high saleability factor, it is no surprise that these artists are less willing to take chances.

On the other hand, one finds that most contemporary artists are more experimental in nature. They are willing to try out various mediums and also different themes and genres. Subodh Gupta one of the biggest names on the Indian contemporary art scene is a case in point. The medium for his installations vary from cow-dung patties to stainless steel, and he also expresses himself through paintings.
With greater exposure to Western art and culture there is an openness to experiment and try out new things. Indian artists are increasingly finding global acceptance through their international quality works. And are therefore willing to take greater risks.
Incidentally, this is a good time to be a young artist brimming with new ideas supplemented with innovation. Conceptual art or new media are all waiting to be innovated upon.

With all the buzz surrounding Indian art, one finds that the Bangalore art scene is quite nascent at the moment. Serious collectors’ crib that one does not get to see the best on the Indian art horizon, whereas, dealers and galleries feel that Bangaloreans are not ready for it. A chicken and egg situation as a friend, who has been in this business for years put it.
Well, someone has to take the first step. Here’s hoping to see some seriously good art.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

A historic sale by Damien Hirst

(Nalini S Malaviya)

Who wants to spend on cadavers?

Damien Hirst has astounded everyone with the phenomenal results at the Sotheby’s auction held last week. £111.4 million! That’s right, he made that much in the sale that was spread over two days. For those of you who are familiar with the works of the flamboyant artist, you must have seen pictures of animal cadavers preserved in formaldehyde solution or those of dead butterflies pinned and painted upon. Well, this particular sale showcased 223 works done in the last two years and the auction was dedicated to a single artist i.e. Hirst. "The Golden Calf," a white bullock preserved in formaldehyde, with hoofs and horns made of 18-carat gold and a gold disc crowning the head went for £10.35 million.

In fact, in what was a first, Hirst took his works to Sotheby’s directly sans galleries and dealers, which means he collects their commissions too. Taxidermist, publicity monger - these are some of the epithets that have been heaped upon Hirst, as his choice of medium and marketing strategies have always been controversial. Art market analysts were skeptical if the sale would be successful at all, but then Sotheby’s and Hirst went all out to woo prospective buyers. A genius whether in marketing or creativity, well, that is debatable.
And, now that a recent research claims that looking at beautiful paintings can actually alleviate pain, one wonders why one wants to place cadavers in their immediate environment and look at them!

Silent verses
In stark contrast to Damien Hirst’s avant-garde art we have an exhibition of paintings titled ‘Silence’ by the city based artist MS Murthy. Murthy’s works are minimal abstracts with tiny specks of light. Formless and almost austere the paintings are monochromatic panels of earthy colours that evoke a sense of calm and tranquility. His works appear to be spiritual in their minimalism, and one feels stillness and a sense of quiet when looking at them. Vast spaces that flow seamlessly create an aura of solitude and serenity.
His earlier series on the Buddha was also non–figurative, with expanses of colours streaked with irradiant light on the canvas.
Murthy has won the International Biennale Award (2003) from Iran Academy of Arts in which he represented India.

(The exhibition can be viewed till October 5 at Times and Space Art Gallery, Bangalore)

Published in Bangalore mirror