This year Delhi saw the most extended winter and even experienced rain and hail frequently. Though the cold sun and grey sky remain dominant but that didn’t deter the energy, it kept emitting its warmth and painted the city with myriad colours.
Much awaited India Art Fair, a treat of four days,saw over 1,000 artists and 75 galleries participating from home and beyond.
It was beautiful to see the participation of emerging art practices, evolving artist’s works to veterans,and master work of Raja Ravi Varma, Tyeb Mehta, F.N. Souza, Akbar Padamsee Ram Kumar, MF Husain, Jamini Roy which adorned many galleries regally.
I personally liked some installation of new age artists. Some of the display had a strong influence from the surrounding and had pertaining questions. Though this year Art Fair failed to impress me like previous years. The fair also witnessed legendry artist Satish Gujral, and his wife Kiran Gurjal, who despite of their health complications and movement restriction were seen regularly in the Art Fair. Both mirrors a picture of embodiment of love, grace and dignity and welcomes all with their affable smile and warmth. Our Senior Editor, Ritika Lall Chakravartty met the art exponent and his wife Kiran Gujral and managed a heart-warming conversation with the veteran on art and beyond.
Our cover story is dedicated on Satish Gujral’s interview, the interview is an insight to his childhood days to unfolding of emotions for his wife Kiran , his life , experience in Mexico , his canvas , sculpture , architecture and his maiden architectural project being recently mentioned by British Institute of Architect in their new edition of the“Global History of Architecture” a new edition of “ Sir Banister Fletcher’sGlobal History of Architecture, England”.
Rajesh Punj, London based correspondent has done in-depth interview with American photographer, artist and academic Leslie Hewitt. Leslie Hewitt explains her visual configuration as the culmination of historical and with here and now evidence. Further she explains how she has been attracted to aesthetic things and how photography as a medium left a lasting impression on her.
Line Vincent reports on Suresh Nair mural art, she talks in length about the mural technique, aesthetics of mural art, the project and artist’s internal landscape. Line Vincent, further deepens her thought on art mechanism, talk about the project Peace, it’s thought, philosophy and duration of completion.
Upasna Battacharya Seal finely reviews Art for love, Love for art book. She explains the subject, focuses on the aspect that the book features. She interprets how art helps our mind to calm, stop, think, embrace and engage. Upasana narrows down her view and talks about the emergence of modern art and pertaining question that book highlights on being Indian and modern. The book strongly debates on the break from Mughal era painting and emergence of Modern Indian art,it also succeeds in outlining, how modern Indian painting were influenced by the surroundings, and supports its argument though the reflective narratives.
Jalaj Yadav in his photo story talks about his passion for photography and exploration through visual medium. According to Jalaj Yadav photography gives power to think and apply new form of creativity. Jalaj is also of the opinion today having a good sense of composition, light and angel is not enough in art photography, it’s important to introduce new dimension. His photo workis an intriguing walk through and a good art work to look at.
Upasna Bhattacharya Seal reviews Shampa Sircar Das, Strokes of silence. Upasna stresses about the peacefulness and profound inner silence of Shampa Sircar Das work. Her exhibition was held in Chawla Art Gallery, gallery is a connoisseur of emerging contemporaries of fine art.
Ritika Lall Chakravartty reviews the collaborative art show, Dialogue Enroute Puri held in Art Konsult. The exhibition brought several artists at one platform, who had produced work of the same nature. Exhibition was an inspiration from the nature and focused on the life and aesthetics around sea and water. Lina Vincent essays on Souza art history. She highlights Souza’s treasured formative years of work and his life in Bombay and exposer to art. She also views Souza’s changing paradigm after reaching to London and his influence from Picasso.
Sumati Gangopadhyay reviews Reivatak, the group show at faculty of fine arts Baroda, brought many artists on one canvas and blended together. Most of the art work narrates the effect of urbanisation and lack of human interaction, true friendships and meaningful deep relationships become sources of inspiration for this artist.
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Happy Reading
Siddhartha Tagore
