Art is a form of expression, a way to channelize the innermost, what is felt/ experienced/ perceived or even that which disturbs and communicate it to the viewer; it gives an artist the power to instantaneously convey a thousand words with a single work of art. This power also adds the burden of responsibility. In times of fake news and biased/manipulated media, art once again has the ability to bring forth issues that are ignored or buried. Not every artist however creates such a discourse so as to shake society out of its numbness and to compel to face reality; yet there are some; Those who care and use their creativity and understanding to bring about awareness and to give back, by actually working towards a solution. Samar S Jodha is one such, and his work speaks volumes. His continuing efforts toward creating sustainability, to shed light on the suffering and altercations faced by the marginalised, be it the Phaneng series, sensitively documenting a rapidly disappearing tribe or the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in Bhopal. A silent picture to Discord that focuses on issues of migration are some examples. His recent venture Red Balloon Global is accolade worthy; recently its Young People for Change program “Moving Out to go Within” held workshops that have now culminated into an interesting interactive public arts installation, Jyoti Kathpalia takes us along on a journey to discover more.
Dr. Seema Bhalla’s scholarly take on the textile traditions of India, is a tour through history and origins of popular weaves, embroideries and prints that exited and those that came about as juxtapositions of Western and Indian sensibility during the colonial period, evolving in symbiosis, each with the influence of the other. As the demand for Indian textiles and prints grew in the Western world and Indians started to appreciate and seek Western ones. Discovering The Art of Nicholas Roerich by Vladimir Zaitsev is our next story; to view a painting by Roerich is always a special experience, as expressed by Russian writer L Andreev ‘To see a Roerich picture means to see something new, something you have never and nowhere seen, not even among Roerich’s own works.
Rajesh Punj explores the nuances of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair, in its eleventh edition, branded in black and-white as ‘Abu Dhabi Art’ at pivotal points across the port city. Intentional absence of the word ‘Fair’ from its title, to concentrate on the cultural – with mention of geographies and agendas that are cerebral rather than sales-driven. An event with a wider mandate than other art fairs, with its long-standing relationship with the Department of Culture and Tourism in the UAE, as ‘not just a commercial enterprise, but actively contributing to and supporting the local art ecosystem.’ The Serendipity Arts Festival, in 2019 saw its fourth edition Manashri Pai Dukle delves into the aesthetic blend of Visual, Performing and Culinary art and the interactions during one of the largest multi-disciplinary arts initiatives in the South Asian region.
All this and much more! Hope you enjoy the read. Do share with us your feedback at artanddeal@gmail.com
Siddhartha Tagore
