Monday, May 13, 2013

Editorial, Maya Art Space, Nehru Centre and More..


EDITORIAL


Necessity of Art Critics 


In Mumbai, a young artist approaches me and with a lot of hesitation asks me how important it is for an artist to be in touch with an art critic or a friend who looks at his/her works with a critical eye. I tell him, it is very important. And within a second I add that it is very important for a young artist to have a critic friend than for an established artist. The maxim could be something like this: When an artist is young he follows the critic and when he is established critic follows him/her. The need of a critic arises from the very fact that art has a language of its own and it varies from artist to artist. Critic at times becomes a guide, sometimes a reformer and often an interlocutor.

When an artist is young and his language is in its formative stages critical interventions make a lot of sense because the critic with his knowledge and awareness translates this nascent language into palpable terms which would give a lot of confidence or correctional chances to the artist. When an artist is established the language too is established. The very notion of establishment of an artist engenders the idea of a mature language. Hence, it is imperative for a young artist to have a critic friend during the years of growing up.

Unfortunately, there is a common view that critics are ferocious people who just don’t care about the sentiments of the artists. They tear their works off and demoralize them through their words. But let me tell you, this is a false notion. Art critics are those people who travel with the artists and invest their energies into interlocution and ideation. No art scene has ever grown without critics’ interventions. Critical writings are the basis of art history. Hence, I insist that all the young artists in this country should find their critics and grow along with them.

Art critics are of two types; one, careerists and two, professionals who take art criticism as their life mission. Level of integrity of art critics depends on their choice of being a careerist or a professional. Artists should be intelligent enough to discern between them.

JohnyML


NEWS


Magnum’s Vision of India - Photography show at Seagull


The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata, along with Tasveer, presents a show titled  ‘Magnum’s Vision of India -  The last 50 years’ The show opens on the 17th of May 2013 and will be on view till the 28th of May 2013.

The show introduces the viewers to the rich archives of Magnum and their ongoing collections of India through the eyes of eight photographers, who’s careers span the agency’s past present and future. Photographers like Olivia Arthur, Raghu Rai, Steve McCurry, Bruno Barbey and more.

Magnum, was founded by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier - Bresson, George Rodger and David Seymour in 1947 as an international photographic collective to promote best photography as art.



L’exigence de la saudade -  a dancer, a weaver and an artist show

(Padmini Chettur performing)

Clark House Initiative collaborates with The Kadist Art Foundation of Paris, to present a unique show of three artists from parts of India. The show titled, ‘ L’exigence de la saudade’ will take place in Paris, and the artists are, Padmini Chettur, Prajakta Ptnis and Zamthingla Ruivah.

The show combines three different artistic expressions and brings them together as a philosophy of time and space of a country. Padmini Chettur , a contemporary dancer, presents a choreographed dance recital, in a style which has been revived after 30 long years of forced amnesia. Prajakta Potnis adds to the concept of saudade by presenting an installation which is a reminder of the architecture fo a city growing each day. Her installation focuses on the deep cracks n fissures caused by political and natural causes on the architecture of the city and redefines history of a place. Zamthingla Ruivah revives the weaving traditions of the North East of the country,  as a narrative of the events of the specific community. The stories are put in a geometrical format and are a testimony to its brutal political history.

This curatorial collaborative between Clark house  Initiative and Kadist Art Foundation is on view from the 18th May to the 28th of July 2013. Preview on 17th May 2013, 6-9 pm.


Seeing the Unseen - A show of photography works at Maya Art Space

(work by Kushan Gangopadhyaya)


Maya Art Space, Kolkata presents a first of its kind show of photography titled, ‘seenUnseen’. The show displays works of 37 photography artists from different parts of the country and world.

Varying in levels of proficiency, from late masters to established professionals to upcoming amateurs, this eclectic mix of practicing photography artists display a vast range of works dealing with the basic theme of seen unseen, bringing thought provoking, emotional and unusual imagery.

Madhuchhanda Sen of Maya ArtSpace has curated the show focusing on the works and ably tying them with a common thread.

The show will be inaugurated on 13th May 2013 by the participating artists and will be on view till the 23rd May 2013. The show also presents three interactive sessions on 16th, 18th and 21st May 2013. The interactive sessions are as follows:

16th May 2013:Capturing the Wild  - by Rajarshi Banerjee and Bikas Das

18th May 2013: Nature Through Lens - by Soumitra Dutta and Susanta Banerjee

21st May 2013: Glamshots - by Sanat Ghosh and Joydip Mitra


The show concludes on 23rd May 2013.




Art Fusion Show  -  Nehru Center


Nehru Center, Mumbai presents its seventh ‘Art Fusion’ show from the 23rd May to the 30th May 2013. The exhibition aims to provide opportunities to artists and artisans of India, mainly from Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

The Nehru Center has been hosting the Art Fusion show since 2007 and each year the special focus has been on artists from different states of the country. This year the focus is on the colourful state of Rajasthan and along with the show, many cultural programs connected to the state have been planned. Live demonstrations of ethnic art, by artisans also can be viewed at the show.

The show attracts viewers from all walks of life and art enthusiasts.

(News Reports by Sushma Sabnis)





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