IN MEMORY OF VISHWASRAO CHOWGULE

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

Sudhir Katkar would have remained an unknown name, as a hoarding and poster painter, if not for his intense urge to get into the prestigious Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai and arm himself with a sound training.

Sudhir, today, is a professional painter and has to his credit large number of commissioned works that finds a place in the famous private addresses and corporate quarters.

Beginning as a humble film poster and hoarding painter, at the tender age of thirteen, he acquired the necessary skill and confidence to take on the highly competitive and quality conscious art market. He has captured the likeness of famous yesteryears film stars from Rajesh Khanna to superstar Amitabh Bachchan and glamorous Rekha to talented Smita Patil. If this was for public consumption then the serious portraits of noted industrialist and corporate czars were for private collection.

After painting over two thousand portraits over the years, besides other works, Sudhir fondly remembers the kind support extended to him during his struggling days, by Goan industrialist late Vishwasrao Chowgule.

This exhibition, currently on at the Ruchika's art Gallery, Miramar, titled “Aadaranjali” is organized as a mark of honour and a symbol of his notable contribution. With the exception of few family portraits there are over fifty paintings done in oils on canvas. Assorted sizes, different subjects and subtly varied styles dominate the show.

Sudhir doesn’t claim to preach yet few of his works like the one on Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa do make one contemplate. His Mother Teresa is a reflection of his grandmother. Fascination for nature has made Sudhir travel around and paint landscapes of Kerala, Goa and other areas. He’s enamored by Goan life and natural beauty and that can be seen in the paintings of Palolem, Calangute and few other spots.

Of late, Sudhir has begun to use impasto technique with fluid and bold approach. He prefers to paint pleasant subjects that relax the viewers and buyers alike in this strife filled world.

Having shown his serious art works in the Jehangir Art Gallery and other centers, he plans to revive the dying art of film posters by marrying modern techniques and styles with it.
The current show will be on till January 27.

ALL WOMEN SHOW

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

Ruchika’s Art Gallery, Miramar, has come up with a unique all women show of art by Nirupa Naik, Druvinka and Shirley Bhatnagar.

Goan artist Nirupa along with Sri Lanka born Druvinka and US based Shirley’s coming together adds an interesting touch to the show. If Nirupa is emotionally charged whilst painting and brings in nostalgic flavour then Druvinka explores the expansive human consciousness through her paintings. Shirley’s creative products are sculptural and functional in nature yet exude an aura of pure art.

Nirupa’s works are a perfect reflection of her tranquil personality. Her three decades of tryst with the canvas and colours have been enriching, given the unique style of painting with clustered lines, deliberate splotches and bright hues that generate a festive mood.

Each of her paintings conveys the message of happiness, peace and harmony. With childhood steeped in the quiet environs of nature in the midst of swaying palms and towering beetulnut trees, gentle hills, lush green fields and serene ponds, Nirupa paints her innermost feelings of the folk memories and beautiful nature ensconced in her village. Manmade elements make a very rare appearance whilst tiny forms painted with bright colours and multiple shades and tints embellish the paintings.

“Festival”, “Infinite Joy From Within”, “Tree Of Joy” and “Song of Dawn” are some of the works that are on display. Nirupa through her works intend to touch the heart of the viewers.
Druvinka on the contrary displays a very rare streak of cerebral artistry even though she paints with an intention of taping the consciousness. Not completely disregarding the existence of traditional means, she attempts to accomplish contemporary refinement. Her seemingly complex and layered paintings are basically spontaneous outpourings
She states that her works display freedom through the elements of art and attempts to strike a deep chord with the reality of nature. She employs forms like lingam, circles, buds, snakes, vagina, idols, silhouettes and shadowy figures to present her ideas. These are forms suggestive of tantric symbols that elucidate the complexities of cosmology and the idea of universality.
Druvinka’s paintings border on the definition of spiritual outpourings. The Vedic spiritual concept of the whole cosmos and an individual living creature being a product of the single universal truth gets defined in these framed works. In fact, her works invite the viewers to participate and experience the absence of duality between the microcosm and the macrocosm.
The transparency in the works and the vortex of multiple layers collectively force the viewers to make a compulsory participation. She works in a typical meticulous fashion, creating unusual textures.
Shirley’s ceramic art and design display were made in New York City and few in the suburbs of New Jersey. All of these creative products are the outcome of the efforts employed in the past three years. Sculptural in nature, even those that are meant to be functional exude an aura of pure art.

Shirley, a B.A in Design from NID, Ahmedabad, utilizes her talent and training to design and manufacture utility and functional products like Tea Sets and lotion bottles to general pottery and textiles. Shirley experimented with variety of materials such as ceramics, textile, paper, metal like aluminum, brass, copper etc. and wood to create products and sculptural works.

Besides these she went on to train the economically disadvantaged to gear up for a possible vocation along with managing a studio at IM Art Center, New Jersey, USA. She has collaborated with Rajiv Sethi, India's renowned scenographer to create a ceramic installation for the new Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.

The current works are confined between average to small size.

Amongst the works displayed here, “Porcelain Complicated” is a shade reflection of her previously produced coiled series. Very thought provoking and cerebrally instigating. “Friends” on the contrary is upfront, inviting the viewers into the lives of the sculpted figures.