COLOURENTICE.COM

 

 NAGUESH  RAO  SARDESSAI

‘Brushstrokes 2013’ is the fifth straight show, and first in Goa, organized by  ‘colourentice.com’, in almost equal number of months.

The show, at the Directorate of Art & Culture’s Art Gallery at Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, brought together fifty artists from across India including seven Goan talents, displaying an eclectic mix of theme, styles, isms, genres etc.

Born out of pure passion for the arts, ‘colourentice.com’ is run by a group of like-minded corporate individuals lead by Topendra Bhattacharjee. Manjula, Topendra’s better half and a passionate amateur artist, was the catalyst to ignite the passion for raising this online entity. Chucking his cozy job as a commercial banker, Topendra immersed himself into creating and nurturing this entity that aims to promote art and artists.

‘We wish to partner with emerging and mid career artists and facilitate a healthy commercial dialogue with the Indian and International art buyers,’ explains Topendra.
This online entity has over 120 artists as members and the firm intends to offer a platform to the emerging creative talent by gifting them their independent space. A novel concept where the online portal will run the business but the artists will vest personal control over their activities. This definitely ensures a flow of artists to ‘colourentice.com’.
‘More so,’ says Topendra, ‘we intend to tap the growing number of trained artists who get lost in the web of cutthroat art market and glitzy maneuvers.’
‘The artists here will not only be selling art but also get constant support and guidance in the course of their blooming career.’
The firm has plans to include Indian folk art into their ambit and promote it to further the folk artists’ interest. A noble intention though, with a focus on all out commercial benefits to these less privileged artists. The firm relies on referrals for accepting artists on board which make the process transparent and attracts quality talent.
The exhibition here, in Goa, was chock-a-block with high quality contemporary art works and commendable draftsmanship. With deliberate attempt to travel these shows to different cities and include the local artists, ‘colourentice.com’ intends to offer the much-admired diversity and facilitate a dialogue with the local art enthusiasts.

Noted artist Mohan Naik, who was the prime facilitator of this stunning show, has his enticing works on display besides six other Goan Artists. The others included Sanjay Harmalkar, Theodore Mariano Mesquita, Suhas Shilker, Francis De Sousa, Julio D Souza, Norman Tagore and Salvador Fernandes.

Jogen Chowdhury, Devidas Dharmadhikari, Dhiren Sasmal, Dinkar Jadhav, Gopal Chowdhury, H. R. Das, Jagannath Paul, Madhumita Bhattacharya, Mithun Datta, Prashant Yumpure, Samir Sarkar, Shekhar Ballari and many others represent the Indian contingent.
Each of the work displayed exuded immense quality and refinement that had been eluding Goan art lovers for far too long. The Art Gallery was enveloped with a visual extravaganza that extended a warm invite, invigorated the visitors and added colours to their life.
The exhibition was on view till May 26, 2013.