Category: Editorial

Isn’t it a tragedy that a tragedy is needed to bring about fundamental changes in human behavior? A careless society suddenly becomes a cautious one when a calamity strikes. A callous person becomes responsible when tragedy visits him or his near and dear ones. An irresponsible authority becomes conscious of his deeds when one of […]

EDITORIAL Art Districts herald the centralization of galleries to/in a certain hub, which is considered to be frequented by art lovers and collectors than other places where galleries are seen absolutely scattered or de-centralized. In the west, where an established and structured art market has been in place for many decades, art districts are a […]

A couple of decades ago, when I came to Delhi for the first time, the city looked like an expanded vista of uncouthness. ‘Gupt rogi milen’ (Consult for Venereal Diseases) was the first wall writing inviting me into the city; I could sense the character of the city and its innards from that one line. […]

This issue of Art and Deal focuses on photography. As a keen reader you may be wondering why we are repeating an issue on photography as we just published an issue on the same subject in July 2013. As we know, nowadays billions of photographs are being uploaded on social networking sites. In such a […]

The nineteenth century saw the invention of a beautiful device known as the camera obscura. The dictionary explains the meaning: a darkened chamber or small building in which images of outside objects are projected onto a flat surface by a convex lens in an aperture, sometimes shortened to camera. It is one of the most […]

‘Art has no religion or cast, it transcends all barriers’. Hindustan(then) has had multiple foreign powers ruling that have left behind their artistic and cultural heritage. In this regard, the Mughals from Persia established their reign in Central and North-Western part of India in late 1300 A.D. The prolific artistic construction in terms of architecture, […]

Freedom of expression has been a contested term in the contemporary scenario. Artists, musicians, filmmakers are continually plagued by the forces that are beyond their power. They become victims of various ideological apparatuses like the State and society at large. These authoritative bodies have always tried to suppress any idea or thought that has a […]

Vinita DasGupta We have delineated a series of interesting Essays that brood on different issues concerning sculpture and public art. Sculpture could also be included under the broad category of public art for it awaits and elicits a reaction from its spectators it interacts with. In this regard, we have examined sculptural installations by G.R […]

Public art in India is scant and is still grappling to pave its way into the psyche of its people. The sculptural installations have to blend into the environment, reflect the mood of the space it acquires and i communicate to the public. In India, the idea of public art mainly entails huge sculptural renditions […]

The term folk and tribal art are products of a colonial regime where the sudden need of preserving the non-mainstream was realised. Folk and tribal art has always been perceived as art created only for a specific audience, reflecting a world-view held by a particular group and not something that could be universal and spontaneous. […]

Art is life. Art cannot be separated from life. There is an inextricable relationship between art and life. All that we experience is transmitted onto an image, stirring the innermost emotions that lay dormant inside us as humans. The relationship between the viewer and the image projected is a very intimate and personal one especially […]

The presence of visual arts dates back to centuries and is instrumental in representation of life. Ever since life began man felt the need to express these aspects of life through creative pursuits like engaging in art. However trivial and frivolous some of these artistic renditions might seem to us now, they were indeed the […]

Autumn has arrived. Th e Northern Winds sway across the city and soothe the senses. Nature is such a mystery, yet it has a cycle. Life cycles that we are all caught up in and invariably follow. It defi nes our very existence and the way we live. Spring is the season of blossoming and […]

Art in every age corresponds to the beliefs, ideals and philosophical ideas it propagates. Iconography as a convention is inseparable from the religiosity and ritual it entails. It has penetrated very deeply into the psyche of people and idol worship is practiced, revered and celebrated in most Indian households as a medium to reach out […]

The emergence of art as a market in the early 90s has constituted it is as yet another investment opportunity. I recollect, when I started out in the late 80s to pursue my passion for collecting art, the formation of galleries had still not begun. Hence, the recognition of art as an investment asset class […]

The terrible heat plaguing the city has subsided. Rains have ushered in scantily. As we anticipate the monsoons to herald a new beginning, so do gallery owners, especially after the stagnant state of the art market. Although the art market has faced a major decline, art galleries all over the country would be gearing up […]

I look at facebook and other social networking sites. I see young people complaining. They are complaining about everything. Young artists say that they don’t have enough money to support their creative activities. Young art critics say that one day they will prove their worth. But my question is what about today? What are you […]