COUNTER POINT

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

‘Counter Point’, an exhibition of paintings, silkscreen prints, collage and watercolours, was on at the Alliance Francaise, Panaji.

Aruna Witte, the creator of these works, is a widely traveled artist with keen sense of observation and admirable intellectual insight.

Her works generally lean towards conceptual realization and can be broken down to two aspects – one mathematical and the other organic. Seemingly abstract works have strong base in tangible and perceptive reality. The works with the mathematical conceptual point of reference basically emerge from the set of numbers, variants and combinations.

Aruna prefers to move beyond dependence on the process of painting to highlight the potency of the finished work. Every completed work goes through the systematic development required to produce an intellectually stimulating piece. Yet the viewer’s are not compelled to view the works with the creator’s goggles. With the freedom to conduct their independent interpretation, each work stimulates multiple viewpoints and counter points. It is futile to rationalize this complexity.

Aruna’s background in arts, science, music, literature and dance combined with comprehensive exposure to numerous professional working artists in the UK, U.S.A., and Canada endows her with rich wealth of knowledge and refined sensibilities. Besides indulging in photography, she has to her credit a privately published, limited edition, short story titled ‘My History’ and novels titled ‘Veil of Deception’ and ‘Behind the story’.

With British roots and connections with Pondicherry, Aruna moved places to study Paleontology and Greek philosophy in Bristol, UK. Along with visual arts, music and mathematics.

Residing in Goa since April, Aruna has established a permanent base in Goa.

FEMALE POWER

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

‘Various Artists’ is an exhibition that featured works of eight artists from diverse places.

This is an effort by the Ruchika’s Art Gallery, Miramar, in a line of actions throughout so many years since inception, to provide a platform to the young and emerging artists. A platform that offers them the opportunity to gain wider exposure and reach out to numerous art connoisseurs and quality viewers.

Harshada Kerkar, Archana Yadav, Suruchi Jhamkar, Vijaya Kalyan, Dimple Shah, Chaitali Morajkar and Prafulli Shevade have already made their mark in the art world and have a sizable fan following that’s growing with every passing exhibition. This supposedly all women exhibition featured Sudhir Bangar and Dilip Kumar Kale, two noted male artists as well.

SURREAL AND SPIRITUAL

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

Aadhi Vishal is one of the emerging stars on the art firmament. Looking at the trajectory of growth of this young artist, there’s no doubt that he’ll appreciate with every passing day.

Art chamber, Calangute, is currently hosting an exhibition of his latest works. On display are paintings done in watercolour on paper and acrylic on canvas. It’s interesting to view his works for the sheer size with which he works.

Aadhi Vishal constructs a wonderland on canvas and paper using the usual artist’s paraphernalia – paint and brush. Fairy type forms float in the space loosely framed by supporting forms of transmuted figures, lilting and visually enticing decorative designs and such other elements.

‘My paintings are more towards the surreal and spiritual teachings of life,’ says Aadhi Vishal. His works display his spiritual inclination quite starkly. In one of his works titled ‘Homage to Rumi’ he tries to illustrate the teachings of the great Sufi poet and incorporate his metaphors and similes.

Besides consciously borrowing symbols from the great teachers and saints, he has developed a vocabulary of his own and speaks the language that connects with the heart.

"If Poetry comes not as naturally as the Leaves to a tree it had better not come at all," thus said renowned poet John Keats. Spontaneity is the key in the process of painting for Aadhi Vishal and he refuses to compromise on that.

EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

Creative painting is a very private affair and it’s very rare to find an artist exhibit his process.

Many prefer to keep their technique a closely guarded secret whilst few others might just seek solitude and privacy. There are many who shy away from facing the crowd.

Whatsoever might be the reason, the general public remains disconnected from the creative process making art the domain of the exclusive few.

Indian Ateliers, Goa, an organization providing platform to enthusiastic and promising artists from India and International Centre, Goa, Dona Paula, recently hosted a painting demonstration cum interactive session with young and noted artists Dinkar Jadhav and Ajay Deshpande from Pune.

Dinkar, hailing from Jadhavwadi, Pune, Maharashtra, is armed with a degree in fine art from the Abhinava Kala Vidyalaya, Pune. A great admirer of world master J M W Turner, Dinkar uses Impasto technique and captures a good play of light and shade found in nature with melodies colours. ‘Nature,’ states Ajay, ‘ provides him with inspiration to express his inner vision.’

Ajay Deshpande from Yavatmal, Maharashtra has many awards to his credit. He has participated in numerous workshop and painting exhibitions across India. Prominent workshops Ajay has been a part of are Intach (Lucknow) in Pune, 1992. Disha (Delhi) in Pune, 1992. and NCPA in Mumbai, 1992. He has been invited to give demonstrations and present his art in major institutions in Maharashtra besides earning major prestigious Scholarships. His works are in public and private collection in India and abroad.

Together they produced four paintings on canvas using oils and acrylics. The demonstrations were interrupted by queries from the enthusiastic crowd of amateurs and professionals.

The demonstrations were followed by a slide show of their works, produced over the years, and an interactive session.

Queries related to the choice of theme and various techniques and matters related to the germination of the creative concepts and effects of external influences on the artists were satisfactorily addressed by the duo.

Such events help the young local artists to exchange views and clarify their doubts at the same time aid the senior artists to exchange views and share ideas. The writer of this blog moderated this event that drew a large crowd. The General Manager of ICG through its representative, Program Manager, Arjun Halarnkar expressed his satisfaction and promised to support such activities in the near future. Sanjeev Mirchandani of Indian Ateliers thanked the ICG for its support and promised to work in the larger interest of art in Goa and India.

BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

Surabhi Gaikwad, a young and creative artist is showed her paintings at the Goa Kala Academy’s Art Gallery, Panaji.

A trained graduate of fine arts from the Goa College of Art, Alinho, Surabhi went on to complete her masters from the Hyderabad university in the year 2005.

Current exhibition titled ‘Reflections’ had over twenty-seven works on display. Her paintings are the reflections of the happenings in the life of people in general and her experiences in particular. She has, after her masters, completed a brief stint with an art gallery in Mumbai before packing her bags to return to Goa.

Having realized the need to satisfy her own inner self, Surabhi immersed herself in the process of painting. She prefers oils to any other media. ‘Oils,’ she says, ‘suits my temperament and painting style.’ More in love with the process of painting than painting by itself, she works at a leisurely pace.

Most of her works are women oriented and few are based on the subject of relationships. Influences, experiences, feelings and other factors leave an impression on the artist and get translated into paintings. Surabhi’s case is no different. She intends to create a mood and avoids going into intellectual explanations.

Her works are simple and neat and bring out varied moods and shades of women whose anxiety, fears, loving glances etc. gets personified in Surabhi’s paintings.

Her works have shades of Amrita Sher Gill, B. Prabha and Anjali Ela Menon. She admits her admiration for masters like Paul Gauguin and his bold usage of bright and vibrant colours.

SPREADING HARMONY THROUGH ART

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

“Simply Together in Harmony” is an Exhibition that truly lived up to its title. Four Artists with subtly different styles yet profoundly common Theme - HARMONY- huddled fifty-two of their works together in the Art Gallery of Goa Kala Academy, Panaji, for a show that stirred the viewers in many different ways.

Deeply influenced by Indian Culture and Spirituality, German artists Hari Diessing and Silke Landmann, Claudio Fiori from Italy, and our very own Goan girl Smruti Sirsat from Mapuca, had presented their impressions in a very lucid and decipherable style.