Abstract art is not an imitation of reality or a parallel depiction of it, but it does have a relation with the reality which is often complex and dialectical in its nature. In abstract art, realism gets transformed into what can be called a ‘higher or heightened realism’. Contemporary artists are now open to experimentation on new ways of visualization , to liberate oneself to the spirit of experimentation.
In this current show titled ‘ALCHEMY- Realm of Tonality & Textures’ each artist opens a window of their creative realms with controlled drawing of lines , use of varied colour tones and of interesting mixed media. These bubbles are waiting to burst with their spirit of energies to celebrate the ease, the play of colours, tones, lines and forms; colors represent fascinating variations, layers and hazes of light and create a pervasive veil of atmosphere. Integrally linked the works then operate in a lattice of interfaces between belonging and being, open to influences both local and global, the skill of training and the color of contemporaneity. This Leitmotif of the textural idioms arouses an unbridled pleasure; it leads, invariably, to an addictive idiom of continuous stimulation-by-image, a loss of correspondence between real-world imperatives and inner world fantasies.
This current show at Juneja Art Gallery, surveys a body of work that leaves itself incisively open, somewhere between being created and wholly complete. Their paintings, may not be muted in color or form, but they are bold and powerful and carry a story to narrate. The textures that they add to each canvas echo the trials and tribulations of observations they all ponder over in the everyday idiom of lifestyles and living. Nature offers them pictorial and aesthetic beauty and inspires them with images and ideas. These artists never loose focus as they glide over their energy forces, deftly using elements of abstraction, distortion and simplification to create an alternative world on canvass.
Each of these artists create intimate glimpses of uncanny worlds and mindscapes suffused with an atmosphere of the unknown . Processes and the possibility of instability, openness, and perpetual transformation underlie the creation and understanding of all the exhibited works.
Amit Kalla : ‘Painting is a thoughtful and humble commencement for me to understand the crux of visual artistic journey along with the considerate subject which moves in between the language of form and formlessness. In my works there is an effort to create impact in a whole and enriching way, through transitional engagement in the painting, which leads the whole process to a higher level of consciousness where time, space and environment have an impetus role which is undoubtedly realized. Much of the imagery comes from my unconscious; There is a profound impact of formalist ideas and thought too on my process, ample activity can be observed on the canvas, at the same time there is presence of settled emotions too. There is some kind of quest, rethinking a remapping’.
Anil Mohanpuriya : His canvasses are modernist in nature with impressionistic undertones. His skill is evident in the way he creates imaginative and stunning cityscapes as molten images in various hues .
Dharmendra Rathore a well known artist, depicts remarkable states of serenity in his paper works , a striking evidence of great strength and skill in organizing forms and colours and creating the effect of enchantment and fantasy. To create vitality & dynamism in an animate mass is a difficult proposition. It takes courage and tenacity as artists explore an addictive idiom , reflecting in some ways the conditions of artistic practices within the broader domain of expressive culture.
Khetanchi : For him Painting is a practice of searching the relevant meaning of nature’s sign, it’s a kind of pure meditative search, in which he deeply found himself submerged and wrapped up, in the variety of different moods, tones and textures in a method which derives through seeing and conjures up colors so thoroughly, each breath becomes stroke of Painting. There is intense and immeasurable imaginative appearance in his abstractions which are outstanding and acquitted, all the way through art works he proved himself as a true explorer of void, as like someone who constantly exploring the real denotations and metaphors of distinctive visual language and trying to manifest the higher realm of aesthetic experience. Gazing his works one can clearly assume his dedication towards subtle symbolic understanding of both form and formlessness.
Nupur Kundu a well known Indian artist, experiments in a wide palette of colour and enjoys impasto oils on her canvases .The palette knife work, the thick impasto paint – it all makes some of the works of these series almost sculptural ! She says “I endeavor to embody in my work the ineffable in colours. The colors are given freedom to flow, move, and dialogue with each other, share inaudibly and even invisibly the mystery of their being. They carry no thematic burden nor are pushed into the straight jacket of meanings. They are a narrative into themselves primarily ‘Colourscapes’ . Nupur renders nature as well as emotive moods through organic motifs, geometrical forms, repetitive brushstrokes and careful layering of impasto paint.
Prayag Shukla who is a very senior Art Historian & Art Critic amazes us with his zestful energetic works , with his multiple coloured registrations creating surfaces of incredible richness and extravagance. There is a reflection and frequent presence of 'self ' in all the artworks his concept of work revolves around myriad facets of life, mostly positive and uplifting. The mixed essence of peace and tranquility that defines the basic nature of the artist as evident in his perfect harmony of bright and soft, prominent and diffusing colours !
Richard Jacobs says “My abstract art explores organic invention, with faith in alchemy and an adventurous concept of time. Elements of the past, present and future separate, blend and interchange until they make sense in a way that the work dictates. Discovering the soul of the painting is the content, with the intent that each piece surprises in new ways every time it is seen, making its individual and evolving nature the reward. Richard Jacobs received a BA from Cooper Union, a MFA from Yale, and was a Henry Luce Scholar in Bali, Indonesia. He lives and paints in Putney Vermont, and maintains a studio in Bali. Works are included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Rose Art Museum, the DeCordova Museum, Fidelity Investments, Bank of America and the Hall Art Foundation.
Somenath Maity’s cityscapes are beautiful, illuminated, and enchanting visuals of the city that are quite layered and imposing, but they belong more to a ‘felt’ space rather than a ‘seen‘ one. They are solitary and dream-like too. They provide a visual treat, but what is more striking is that they seem to unfold some mystery and you wish to remain in front of them for as long as you can. This has been possible mainly due to Somenath’s masterly use of light in his colors.
Surendra Pal Joshi : The art of Surendra Joshi is the understanding of bringing into the studio the field of aesthetic innovation, so that his analogy enriches; it cultivates retreat which nourishes the possibility of real communication and community by replenishing the inner contemplative silence, contains the energy of art, and weaves within the lingua franca of introspection and repose of reflection, and also nurtures it. Born under the rubric of rustic interactivity, works of art can turn into allegorical constructs.
Joshi has used texture and textile in the past to create his works, there is an attempt to re-dedicate itself continuously to a revolutionary impulse that translates texture into the tonality of the canvas, even if this should involve it in a perennial cycle of breaking and re-shaping and recreating. ‘The elements that I used for so many years are now distancing themselves and I am moving towards a minimalist mode, a sense of peace and detachment where only the texture and the color reign.’
Sushil Nimark : The abysmal depth of their artistic vision is abundantly visible in this show as they created with a great deal of passion, intensity and vigor, with layers upon layers mounted with immense dedication and dexterity as we see his works. It has tranquility, optimism and lull, which holds you spellbound & mesmerized. His artworks expose a rhythm of Lived Life !
Vinay Sharma : His work in dynamic structure revolved around ideas and indications of life and earth. His procedure of making a canvas is continuous , he likes to utilize different media and paint on carefully assembled old paper and materials. To make multi-layered pictures, he uses collection, print, and conventional scaled-down canvas in oil and watercolors. These consolidate well with written hand calligraphy and markings on the paper. While making this arrangement, he has a feeling of being an observer to his very own family line and keeps on getting various pictures which blend in his artworks to implant them with another life….
Yusuf ( Bhopal) :In his contemporary abstract paintings, Yusuf generally sticks to sparse and geometric forms. The abstractionist generally expresses using a limited color palette over multiple mediums such as oil, ink and acrylic on canvas. Yusuf understands the meaning and magic of the line - Precision and restraint are his two attributes, consistently evident in his works. Unsentimental, at times to the point of austerity, the paintings have a palpable rhythm. Yusuf employs the abstract medium for uncovering what is not directly accessible. His paintings hint at a distribution of cosmic bodies, their simultaneous aloofness, gravitation and musical movement.
Indigenous art is centered on story telling. There is no written language for tribal folks so in order to convey their cultural stories through the generations it is portrayed by symbols/icons through their artwork.
Aboriginal Art reflects the earliest period of ancient culture; it has both artistic and anthropological merit. The use of symbols is an alternate way to writing down stories of cultural significance, teaching survival and use of the land. It reflects deep knowledge of spiritual, cultural and practical survival teachings. Tribal art form depicts human forms, animals, plants, sacred and transcendental elements and designs pleasing to the eye. Some pictographic motifs symbolizing joy and pride like the sun, flowers, trees, human figures, peacocks, etc, all a spontaneous result of man’s close association with his immediate surroundings, auspicious designs also consist of two interlaced triangles, signifying Saraswati, the goddess of learning.
Traditionally, Tribal art forms, though sometimes purely decorative, were used to mark different occasions such as celebrations, events to pacify malevolent deities or forces of nature, thanksgiving, harvests, and the birth of a child, puberty, marriage and cultural festivals.
Juneja Art Gallery organized it's 140th Show 'ECHO of the Mystical & Unknown' from 24th Feb. - 4th March 2022
Current show at Juneja Art Gallery 'ECHO of the Mystical & Unknown', surveys a body of work that leaves itself incisively open, somewhere between being created and wholly complete. For each of the artists, who create intimate glimpses of uncanny worlds and mindscapes suffused with an atmosphere of the unknown and paranoia , change is an inevitable development. Processes and the possibility of instability, openness, and perpetual transformation underlie the creation and understanding of all the exhibited works. The abysmal depth of their artistic vision is abundantly visible in this show as they created with a great deal of passion, intensity and vigor, with layers upon layers mounted with immense dedication and dexterity. Introspective self is matched by an abandon and courage, it may well have stemmed from a subconscious impulse. After all , you require quite a spiritual effort to effect an exact transformation of the raw life experience into palpable art .
Today’s artists of the Contemporary World seem to be melancholic modernists who create works that trick the eye and have an added edge of surreal dimensions. These paintings & Graphics may not be muted in color or form, but they are bold and powerful and carry a story to narrate. The textures that they add to each canvas echo the trials and tribulations of observations they all ponder over in the everyday idiom of lifestyles and living. Nature offers them pictorial and aesthetic beauty and inspires them with images and ideas. These artists never loose focus as they glide over their energy forces, deftly using elements of abstraction, distortion and simplification to create an alternative world and life where the physical and mystical co-inhabit. It takes courage and tenacity as artists explore an addictive idiom of continuous stimulation-by-image & correspondence between real-world imperatives & inner-world fantasies: reflecting in some ways the conditions of artistic practices within the broader domain of expressive culture.
Juneja Art Gallery established in 1994 has been sponsoring exclusive art shows for last 28 years to showcase not only eminent artists works , but has also strongly supported the deserving & emerging young talent of our country , under its brand name Artchill, which is also its online portal. Artchill has so far sponsored 140 art shows .
P.N. CHOYAL : One of the living legends of the Contemporary Art World, and a close Contemporary of the early Indian Modernists of the 1940’s. P.N. Choyal was against any wholesale borrowing from his illustrious forerunners. Unlike the first generation Modernists, he never rejected the essentially lyrical content in the romantic version of the past, nor did he break down the female figure in angry haste and bitterness. A strong & committed artist, his multi-nuanced compositions have the vital rhythm of lived life. Also to create vitality & dynamism in an animate mass is a difficult proposition. This demands not only a good plastic sensibility but in addition the capacity to redo this same sensibility into objective material forms; A very committed painter, His human figures are symbols of pain and agony. His figures are uneasy spectators to the conflicts & strife around them. They are projections of the dehumanized society suffering unbearable dignity and shame.
Gazing at huge works
of Jagdish Chander , we find that it is not normal
portraiture, but a method of working out human faces wherein each detail is
knit in a pattern, and that pattern overrules the separate details of a face.
Apparently, the artist aimed to electrify the whole of his compositions, so
that viewers strongly winced; for his work is not designed to be a polite, or
pretty one, but the very foundational base of our being : in his work the heart
is laid bare, tellingly. A sensory contact with an outer as well as inner
mental environment occurs - which the deeper physical, emotional and the
rational centers receive and interpret.
Vijender sharma, who excels in the Art of the figure has spent 2 decades probing for the hidden pulse behind appearances. He was particularly attracted to subjects and thinkers who looked beneath the surface of the modern world – to create corollaries where even a stone wall seems to have a secret life. Painted in over two formats of depth and abstraction the experimental stylization of figural form which he developed has coalesced into a confident, subtle, yet deeply elegant visual archetype which recurs throughout his works, particularly as he returns from abstraction to figurative portrayals.
Shahid Parwez’s sense of humour which arises from the perception & depiction of incongruities of existence rules his work, yet over all treatment is a subtle blend of an adult's experience & a child like fantasy. Images of tigers and of romanticized couples, reoccur continually in his work, into serigraphs of multiple coloured registrations creating surfaces of incredible richness and extravagance. Shahid in all of his subtleties of wisdom is telling us to view Art through the innocent eyes of the child we once were. His paintings with their multiple surface layerings act in defusing the sometimes explicitly charged renditions of flirtations as in ‘time for love’ with the obvious placement of the heart shaped time piece, a discreet twist of a nipple and the cat’s tail being held suggestively. The oddities in delineation of human as well as animal forms are result of child like fantasy. Shahid has a tendency to draw - conducive theatrical assimilations.
There is a reflection and frequent presence of 'self ' in all the artworks by Anjani Reddy. If some works explore the intricacies of treasured experiences, the others unravel her day to day exposure and connections with her immediate surroundings and people .The basic core and concept of her work revolves around myriad facets of life, mostly positive and uplifting. The mixed essence of peace and tranquillity that defines the basic nature of the artist. Amongst rosy setting and calm harmony, the young women in the works rejoice and reminisce the golden moments and days that have overshadowed all other anecdotes and experiences of their lives. In the perfect harmony of bright and soft, prominent and diffusing colors, the 'Nayika' relaxes and reigns thoroughly.
Madan Meena pays particular attention to Rajasthan’s socio-cultural issues. His actual artistic production is characterized by refined, almost minimal & classy works. Expressing the complex labyrinth of emotions in simple forms is something Madan has learned from the traditional art form of the Meena tribe, which always has been his source of inspiration. Probably the abstraction and expression of complex ideas in simple forms of folk art and their range are the source for Madan's inclination towards abstraction. His works always have a deep and close association with nature, now this association is reaching to new heights of abstraction. The elements of nature in his previous works have now reached to such an amalgamation with the sight that creates deeper sense of magnificence. It has tranquility, optimism and lull, which holds you spellbound & mesmerized.
Dipika Hazra lays bare the heart-warming simplicity of Rajasthan, the open attitudes of its humanity rooted in the attributes of her land. Dipika’s palette is diversified and vivid. Her choice of reds, yellows and blacks betokens the love of blazing colours with which the people of Rajasthan make up for the vast and drab attributes of their land. The artist depicts remarkable states of serenity & a striking evidence of great strength and skill in organising forms and colours and creating the effect of enchantment and fantasy. The simplicity and spontaneity with which she handles mundane themes is itself a visual treat. She creates a spell binding impact. Untainted by bumptious modernism, Dipika’s works present a lyrical vision of nature.
The innocent and flawless adolescents in the works by Anand Panchal enchant by their exquisite grace, they are an indispensable part of the temple periphery. Born in the family of the ‘pandits’ and the temple care takers, such children imbibe into themselves the elements of the holy surroundings and adapt to them completely. There is an essence of careless beauty and spiritual strength that makes these young girls and boys glow as if illuminated from a source of light concealed deep inside them. He attends to his little angels with affinity, love and thoughtfulness, allowing each of them to glisten in angelic radiance like fresh dew drops on tender leaves. The inclusion of forms such as paper boats, cows, floral clusters and musical instruments add to the metaphorical and allegorical aspects of the works.
Ganga Singh's latest paintings offer us a glimpse into inner landscapes of another world. In these dreamlike scenes, cohabited by animals and people, strange interactions occur that question the traditional logic and expectations of viewing. The bold abundance of vivid color in his new paintings call for viewers delectation of beautiful patterns, which is his signature pictorial element. His depictions are always stylized from his own imagination, memory and dreams alike. ‘My paintings are based on my response to nature. They are modern designs with a strong primitive and tribal influence. Symmetry plays an important role in my painting with powerful and simplified forms.’ Imagination is the most enjoyable faculty man has. It is God’s gift to man. Everything, whether it is living man or animal or non-living: all are equal and have emotions like us. They also act & react the same way as humans. Animals, trees and other animated forms in his work have human faces.
Juneja Art Gallery showcases latest artworks by emerging artist Gourishankar Soni
This is 139th sponsored show by Juneja Art Gallery ( Bais Godown location ) since it was established in 1994 as the 1st private & professional Art Gallery. The Gallery showcases multi media art by not only Eminent Indian artists, but also promotes the young & emerging artists of Brilliance.
The Exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Jagdish Chandra Katil, CMD of FIRST INDIA NEWS
Show is on view daily till 30th Jan 2022, and will travel to Le Meridien Jaipur in March 2022.
Gourishankar Soni's work, rooted in the artist's childhood, reveals certain intriguing facets of time, memory and the traditional Rajasthani way of life. The artist has always been fascinated and impressed by the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. His paintings, often teeming with small figures in dhoti and angarkha, revelling in folk music or other activities with their backdrop awash in bright colors, are resonant with Rajasthani traditions, festivities and day-to-day affairs. The works reflect the way that common folk have been living their lives—with the simplest possible means, yet with dignity and certain grace. All this is perhaps natural, as Gourishankar belongs to Rajasthan and his preoccupation with the beautiful state, which he interprets in a unique manner, is manifest in his art. He interprets the visuals our culture has offered and its present state of affairs that he has seen and felt. The artist celebrates its beauty, joy, and melancholy, with a certain freshness and playful approach which nonetheless asks for serious, sensitive viewing.
Ironically from the land of maharajas, Soni's turbaned 'toilers' are not kings but commoners—sadhus, singers, puppeteers, labourers—men and women, who, unlike royals, have lives that revolve around mundane concerns and moments of leisure that synchronize into collective, community affairs. However in his paintings, each figure seems to have its own autobiography, its own statement. Some of them are retreating into the crevices on the mehrabs of the forts and havelis they built and themselves were almost forgotten. Some gyrating, crawling, wedging themselves through the narrow opening, and some reaching out to each other amid the grind of battles for survival. We can still find their indelible footprint in both life and art.
In his art, Soni has tried to capture their resilience, hope, fears and joys while offering them a more significant social status using his own easily flowing narratives. One can go on weaving many stories with the help of visual narratives he offers. To find the figures climbing a door in one of his works brings a smile to our face as we become one in their adventure and also begin to celebrate, as humans, the passion for creating something bigger than ourselves. Soni has meticulously placed circles and triangles in his images and has laid them neatly, one after another, to have heightened interactions of souls between them.
His works are thus a treat to the eyes and our contemplative faculties. The way he encapsulated the small Lilliputian figures in time, is wondrous and conveys a certain hint of satire. This is particularly noticeable in his painting titled “Social Distance” which reminds us of the plight of the migrants trapped in contexts where social distancing may not be possible even during a pandemic. The use of Egyptian hieroglyphs, symbols such as clocks and antique curios might as well be suggestive of the transience and triviality of human lives. It also raises the question of whether our cultural traditions and social mores are losing their relevance like many lost empires of the distant past. So, in these works, there are histories, but the idea is to turn them into mythical, mystical realms, and make them imaginatively more alive and enchanting. Thus whatever he offers is layered with exquisite references, in terms of specific signs and symbols. In one of his paintings titled “Mystical Life”, we see a sealed tomb of a mummy with carved inscriptions that serve as clues to the rest of the happenings in the picture space.
Gourishankar knows the beauty of the lines, which makes his works more interesting and communicative. The way he sketches the figures, the kites and other objects, all come to us in a focused manner, to establish a 'dialogue'. In fact, this stimulated dialogue makes his paintings worth pondering many times over. Similarly, his use of the circumference of circles, to place some figures and objects there, symbolically is also eye-catching. His bright reds and blues are so very meaningfully expressive and other hues too speak poignantly.
Soni's skills in delineating images, his treatment of textures, his sensuous handling of forms are all allegorically tuned to the extent of being melodious in their tone and tenor. His work, while bearing echoes of the tradition of miniature, champions a more contemporary approach in telling timeless tales of mysticism, language and culture.
Art, since
prehistoric times, has influenced man. Infact art has been the earliest sign of
human imagination & creativity even before the languages evolved. Today’s
artists of the Contemporary World seem
to be melancholic modernists who create
works that trick the eye and have an added edge of surreal dimensions. Their
paintings, Graphics or Sculptures may not be muted in color or form, but they are
bold and powerful and carry a story to narrate. The textures that they add to
each canvas echo the trials and tribulations of observations they all ponder
over in the everyday idiom of lifestyles and living.Nature offers them
pictorial and aesthetic beauty and inspires them with images and ideas. These
artists never loose focus as they glide over their energy forces, deftly using
elements of abstraction, distortion and simplification to create an alternative
world and life where the physical and mystical co-inhabit. It takes courage and
tenacity as artists explore an addictive idiom of continuous
stimulation-by-image & correspondence between real-world imperatives &
inner-world fantasies: reflecting in some ways the conditions of artistic
practices within the broader domain of expressive culture.
Unfettered Forces is 138th show by Artchill (Since 1994), it surveys
a body of work that leaves itself incisively open, somewhere between being
created and wholly complete. For each of the artists, who create intimate
glimpses of uncanny worlds and mindscapes suffused with an atmosphere of the
unknown and paranoia , change is an inevitable development. Processes and the
possibility of instability, openness, and perpetual transformation underlie the
creation and understanding of all the exhibited works. The abysmal depth of
their artistic vision is abundantly visible in this show as they created with a
great deal of passion, intensity and vigor, with layers upon layers mounted
with immense dedication and dexterity. Introspective self is matched by an abandon
and courage, it may well have stemmed from a subconscious impulse. After all , you require quite a spiritual
effort to effect an exact
transformation of the raw life
experience into palpable art .
Spread in 8 lobbies of Gallery Artchill inside the famous Heritage monument - The Amber Fort, this show offers a holistic Art Experience , it comprises of over 90 artworks by 20 artists - Paintings, Reliefs , Serigraphs & 3D art by Contemporary Indian artists.
Gallery Artchill, West wing, Amber Fort, Jaipur. On view till 6th March, Compiled & Curated by Sangeeta Juneja .
Juneja Art Gallery established in 1994 has been sponsoring exclusive art shows for last 26 years to showcase not only eminent artists works , but has also strongly supported the deserving & emerging young talent of our country , under its brand name Artchill, which is also its online portal. Artchill has so far sponsored 138 art shows .
Some of the strongest & serious compositions in this show are works by P.N. CHOYAL. One of the living legends of the Contemporary Art World, and a close Contemporary of the early Indian Modernists of the 1940’s PN Choyal was against any wholesale borrowing from his illustrious forerunners. Unlike the first generation Modernists, he never rejected the essentially lyrical content in the romantic version of the past, nor did he break down the female figure in angry haste and bitterness. A strong & committed artist, his multi-nuanced compositions have the vital rhythm of lived life. Also to create vitality& dynamism in an animate mass is a difficult proposition. This demands not only a good plastic sensibility but in addition the capacity to redo this same sensibility into objective material forms;A very committed painter, His human figures are symbols of pain and agony. His figures are uneasy spectators to the conflicts & strife around them. They are projections of the dehumanized society suffering unbearable dignity and shame.
Arpana Cauraffiliates to this prominent school of time explorers. ‘I am obsessed with the phenomenon of time ‘ she said once, and her pictures are witness to this obsession in many ways. The motifs in her paintings from classic art- Scissors are a repeated symbol and remind us of the Fates, antique goddesses of destiny, who cut the thread of life when the time is due. Traffic lights are phase of order and timing. Everywhere you’ll find the river of time, form which powerful plants emerge or twisted dead trunks and branches submerge. A mediating yogi, oblivious of time and space, stands on one foot and ponders ascetically over spiritual eons.
Gazing at huge works of Jagdish Chander , we find that it is not normal portraiture, but a method of working out human faces wherein each detail is knit in a pattern, and that pattern overrules the separate details of a face. Apparently, the artist aimed to electrify the whole of his compositions, so that viewers strongly winced; for his work is not designed to be a polite, or pretty one, but the very foundational base of our being :in his work the heart is laid bare, tellingly. A sensory contact with an outer as well as inner mental environment occurs - which the deeper physical, emotional and the rational centers receive and interpret.
Niren Sen Gupta - His
experimentation with abstract forms continued well into the eighties. But the
change in temperament gives a glimpse into the twisting road that life can
take. Complex emotions clearly gave way to an underlying feeling of bliss ,
contentment and a sense of serenity has
stayed on in his work till present day.He has executed impressive works on
Moksha where he has portrayed monks in
saffron robes, symbolizing their spirit of sacrifice & compassion. He feels
true search for spirituality uplifts one & connects us with our inner self. In “ Princess ” series, he drew inspiration from the strength of
the Indian Woman, her sacrificing spirit and her devotion to family. He
depicted her as a princess – closely in touch with nature, and often with a
lotus as the symbol of purity.
Vijender Sharma, who
excels in the Art of the figure has spent 2 decades probing for the hidden
pulse behind appearances. He was particularly attracted to subjects and
thinkers who looked beneath the surface of the modern world – to create
corollaries where even a stone wall seems to have a secret life. Painted in
over two formats of depth and abstraction the experimental stylization of
figural form which he developed has
coalesced into a confident, subtle, yet deeply elegant visual archetype which
recurs throughout his works, particularly as he returns from abstraction to
figurative portrayals.
Akash Choyal’slife is art, his art is dream and the dream is his reality itself, says Sandro Orlandi the Italian Curator on his art - The artworks are made of a never-ending alternation of reality and dream, art and life and so they create a dance that shows, hides and intertwine rationality, the deepest and most intimate ego and imagination. Using a Freudian terminology, Akash lives and creates in a state of “preconscious” that means it swings between conscious and unconscious creating a rare, uncertain, mysterious and above all sincere dimension. In the dream everything is possible, the mathematical rules, society’s strict limitations and the influences both cultural and physical are completely absent. The spirit is free to create wondering about this world, accessible only by who is able to dream, to lose control and so to be sincere and natural.
Abbas Batliwala has an uncanny talent to combine complexity & simplicity to great visual effect in his amazing compositions. This incredibly creative man with superb craftsmanship draws on everyday experiences for inspiration which he infuses with a dry, witty sense of urban humour, mixing folk and kitsch into his art. The art of Abbas not only contains satire but also humour. It combines well formulated images with literary puns & sharp wit with grace & candour. His themes merge the rural with urban, masterly disciplined through & bringing to the fore his refined draughtsmanship, which till date remains to the core of his art. He has turned ubiquitous subjects into hot selling art !
Ashok Hazra’scanvasses
are all pieces of his life's experiences sewn together in a string to form a
garland of memories. One series follows another – Fantasy, Ma, Reminiscence,
Clown, Krishna, Devi and now the Flute Player. The lush green Meadows, shady
banana groves, the fragrance of wild grass combined with the rich smell of rain
soaked mother earth still tingles his dreams. Amidst all this beauty, peace and
tranquility the sweet melody of the flute beckons him to his carefree days
spent in the countryside.
Shahid Parwez’s sense of humour which arises from the
perception & depiction of incongruities of existence rules his work, yet over all treatment is a subtle
blend of an adult's experience & a child like fantasy. Images of tigers and
of romanticized couples, reoccur continually in his work, into serigraphs of
multiple colored registrations creating surfaces of incredible richness and
extravagance. Shahid in all of his subtleties of wisdom is telling us to view
Art through the innocent eyes of the child we once were. His paintings with their
multiple surface layerings act in defusing the sometimes explicitly charged
renditions of flirtations as in ‘time for love’ with the obvious placement of
the heart shaped time piece, a discreet twist of a nipple and the cat’s tail
being held suggestively. The oddities in delineation of human as well as animal
forms are result of child like fantasy. Shahid has a tendency to draw -
conducive theatrical assimilations.
There is a reflection and frequent presence of 'self ' in all the artworks by Anjani Reddy. If some works explore the intricacies of treasured experiences, the others unravel her day to day exposure and connections with her immediate surroundings and people. The basic core and concept of her work revolves around myriad facets of life, mostly positive and uplifting. The mixed essence of peace and tranquility that defines the basic nature of the artist. Amongst rosy setting and calm harmony, the young women in the works rejoice and reminisce the golden moments and days that have overshadowed all other anecdotes and experiences of their lives. In the perfect harmony of bright and soft, prominent and diffusing colors, the 'Nayika' relaxes and reigns thoroughly.
Shail Choyalis a painter & printmaker known for a distinctive miniature style of his own. He infuses his works in the narrative idiom and also juxtaposes the allegorical with the real. Exploiting the inherent aesthetic motifs and the multi tier division of space of Rajasthani traditional painting, he has evolved a nostalgic art with an utmost modern sensibility. Vibrant colors and surreal settings add mystery to his paintings creating ethereal atmosphere & fantasy.‘City of Udaipur, with its glorious ancient Rajput architecture, lakes, hills, gardens and robust people with brilliant colors have always been my prime concern. Rigid angular form in horizontal and vertical lines punctuated with curvilinear motifs of doors, windows, still bluer lakes, domes and turrets all fill me with strong sense of nostalgia. For years, I exploited the visual references of my lovely city to project my own personal world that has been mystical and real as well’ says Shail.
Asit Kumar Patnaikhas
been working on the Relations series for quite some time now. It will be
interesting, therefore, to explore the kind of selves articulated into the
batch of works on the Relations series. To begin with, it is informed by a
great deal of individuation. Light, brightness and diversity appear to be a
major leitmotif in this series. The pleasantly aggressive brightness of yellow,
red, ochre and the bold, often charged postures, is an unabashed celebration of
energy, youth and freedom. There is a spring in the steps of the figures; they
enjoy every possibility they imagine and weigh with consideration. This ode to
life however is no uncomplicated tribute to raw passion but careful sifting
away of excess baggage after long and hard meditations.
Madan Meena pays
particular attention to Rajasthan’s socio-cultural issues. His actual artistic
production is characterized by refined, almost minimal & classy works. Expressing
the complex labyrinth of emotions in simple forms is something Madan has
learned from the traditional art form of the Meena tribe, which always has been
his source of inspiration. Probably the abstraction and expression of complex
ideas in simple forms of folk art and their range are the source for Madan's
inclination towards abstraction. His works always have a deep and close
association with nature, now this association is reaching to new heights of
abstraction. The elements of nature in his previous works have now reached to
such an amalgamation with the sight that creates deeper sense of magnificence.
It has tranquility, optimism and lull, which holds you spellbound &
mesmerized.
Dipika Hazra lays bare the
heart-warming simplicity of Rajasthan, the open attitudes of its humanity
rooted in the attributes of her land. Dipika’s palette is diversified and
vivid. Her choice of reds, yellows and blacks betokens the love of blazing
colours with which the people of Rajasthan make up for the vast and drab
attributes of their land. The artist depicts remarkable states of serenity
& a striking evidence of great strength and skill in organising forms and
colours and creating the effect of enchantment and fantasy. The simplicity and
spontaneity with which she handles mundane themes is itself a visual treat. She
creates a spell binding impact. Untainted by bumptious modernism, Dipika’s
works present a lyrical vision of nature.
The innocent and flawless adolescents in the works by AnandPanchal enchant by their exquisite grace, they are an indispensable part of the temple periphery. Born in the family of the ‘pandits’ and the temple care takers, such children imbibe into themselves the elements of the holy surroundings and adapt to them completely. There is an essence of careless beauty and spiritual strength that makes these young girls and boys glow as if illuminated from a source of light concealed deep inside them. He attends to his little angels with affinity, love and thoughtfulness, allowing each of them to glisten in angelic radiance like fresh dew drops on tender leaves. The inclusion of forms such as paper boats, cows, floral clusters and musical instruments add to the metaphorical and allegorical aspects of the works.
Kiran Murdia’spaintings convey her own language of paint and brush subtly, suggestive of her fleeting moods, which she express as proudly by breaking the space of canvas. Her subject matter is simple and she expresses her aesthetic belief in artistic creativity with miniature impact. Use of pure and bright shades of colors, rhythmic & straight lines reflects excitement, movement, grace and charm of life. Her semi-abstract compositions are rich in colors producing dramatic effects in rhythmic movement. The Udaipur landscape still remains a source of reverie, but the centrifugal points in her new works are now accentuated by an abstract delineation.”She respects her pictorial space and honors the moment of inspiration completely.
Ashish Shringi’s body of works in the last two decades has remained inspired by the Tantrik symbolism and traditional art forms of Rajasthan. Living in Bundi the essence of his art always bears the fragrance of nativity. In his paintings he has widely used Tantrik Yantras and symbols contextualizing them with his personal experiences of human relationships. His compositions are highly complex, multidimensional and inter-weaved with multiple perspectives. The feeling of serenity, love, romance, satisfaction, compassion and passion are the soul of his works.
Ganga Singh's latest paintings offer us a glimpse into inner landscapes of another world. In these dreamlike scenes, cohabited by animals and people, strange interactions occur that question the traditional logic and expectations of viewing. The bold abundance of vivid colour in his new paintings call for viewers delectation of beautiful patterns, which is his signature pictorial element. His depictions are always stylized from his own imagination, memory and dreams alike. ‘My paintings are based on my response to nature. They are modern designs with a strong primitive and tribal influence. Symmetry plays an important role in my painting with powerful and simplified forms.’ Imagination is the most enjoyable faculty man has. It is God’s gift to man. Everything, whether it is living man or animal or non-living: all are equal and have emotions like us. They also act & react the same way as humans. Animals, trees and other animated forms in his work have human faces.
Srinavasa Charisays my paintings are my ‘experiences’. The shifts in my thought process are certainly evident from the way I express myself in my work. In the formative years of my career I applied human forms to narrate various experiences. Therefore, they were characters, playing roles I issued them to play. But gradually they got internalized within me and now they reflect my soul in the form of bodies. The human body is now depicted as the spirit of life instead of banal relationships. In fact, it is a vehicle for the traveling spirit.
136th Show sponsored by Artchill at JUNEJA ART GALLERY .
Ganga Singh's latest paintings offer us a glimpse into inner landscapes of another world. In these dreamlike scenes, cohabited by animals and people, strange interactions occur that question the traditional logic and expectations of viewing. The bold abundance of vivid color in his new paintings call for viewers delectation of beautiful patterns, which is his signature pictorial element. His depictions are always stylized from his own imagination, memory and dreams alike.
Art, since prehistoric times, has influenced man. Art can speak where words fail. Nature offers us pictorial and aesthetic beauty as images and ideas. Artist Ganga Singh adds to it -elements of abstraction, distortion and simplification to create an alternative world and life where the physical and mystical co-inhabit. ‘My paintings are based on my response to nature. They are modern designs with a strong primitive and tribal influence. Symmetry plays an important role in my painting with powerful and simplified forms.’ ‘Imagination is the most enjoyable faculty man has. It is God’s gift to man. I believe this imagination provokes him to create and make life worthwhile. Most people ignore their imaginative thoughts. They are too busy in meeting their day to day requirements. I watch my thoughts carefully. They are continuous, without any gap. They take you away from misery….they make you happy ’ says the artist. Most of the time one feels one’s thoughts are wild dreams, un-reasonable, foolish, as they are absurd. But this is the beauty of thoughts. They recreate combinations, take new form, give birth to new dimensions, and create parallel reality. They balance our existence. Ganga uses forms associated with our day to day life to tell stories through his paintings. Philosophy, he feels is equally important. Everything, whether it is living man or animal or non-living: all are equal and have emotions like us. They also act & react the same way as humans. Animals, trees and other animated forms in his work have human faces. ‘I give animal like faces to human beings to show their animal instinct, which dominates their behavior in today`s world.. I have made an effort to portray the deep and hidden emotions that we experience. The purity of colors and forms are very evident which depicts the relationship of body and soul. ‘ In his artistic pursuit he gives importance to his creative expression along with the material and mode he employs. While each material has its limitation in application, he strives to get the maximum out of it, at times even deviating from set procedures and use methods that are not in time with orthodox approach.
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