Press Release Summary: From the mind's eye is an exhibition featuring an interesting amalgam of 14 some of most creative contemporary artists of the buoyant Indian art scene. They have made their presence felt at the international level and are recognized as the harbingers of growth and change. The exhibits featured in the show are remarkable for their exploration of capturing metaphors and turning them into creative manifestations. The form and content chosen by the artists is novel as they discover newer paths to present the expressions of their aspirations and realities.
Press Release Body: From the mind's eye is an exhibition featuring an interesting amalgam of 14 some of most creative contemporary artists of the buoyant Indian art scene. They have made their presence felt at the international level and are recognized as the harbingers of growth and change. The exhibits featured in the show are remarkable for their exploration of capturing metaphors and turning them into creative manifestations. The form and content chosen by the artists is novel as they discover newer paths to present the expressions of their aspirations and realities. Their concerns are shared, they are looking at urban and rural reality as it explodes and implodes around them like land mines programmed to go off with a whisper. But within this cacophony of silence, they make their statement in definitive ways. In the context of the Indian sub-continent, calligraphy of religious texts is not new as a genre, but has been elevated to an art form and often frozen in stone. Siddharth's calligraphic explorations on the historically relatively new material - fibre glass - manage to capture the old and the new in the most charming manner. The form is new. The content timeless in its appeal. The calligraphic element has been fascinating for Alka Raghuvanshi as she hails from a world where the word is sacred in both meaning and context. Golden, glistening sands are an inspirational reference point in the use of the gold. The textures on which AIka uses it are delicate and very feminine, as is the choice of colours. The content and thought are philosophical - the iridescent soul attaches and detaches itself and lives with an ever changing world view as it were, while the light of the kundalini rises to envelop all within its ambit. Some of the artists featured in the show include Manisha Gawade whose abstracts are an interesting amalgam of perceiving reality and weaving it with dreams at the level of pure, unadulterated thought. The stark minimalism of her canvases, offset by an interplay of colour conducts a dialogue with the creation and the creator and still manages to envelop the onlooker into this very private space. Sangeeta Singh's female figures explore the inherent strength of the women as they don't necessarily challenge, but accept gracefully. Her metaphors are hopeful and buoyant as they explore newer vistas. Dharmendra Rathore's gradual shift from dreamy figures inspired no doubt by his native Rajasthan, to sophisticated abstract imagery has touch a new high and is indicative of his growth both as an artist and a person. The palette is elegant and rooted in the phenomenal Indian context. Subrata Biswas's ability to deal with both bright and brooding colours with equal ease is charming and the depth he brings to work is fabulous. Playing with pure thought on a spiritual plane is Sridhar Iyer's hallmark. His ability to grasp the profound at an abstract level has stood him in good stead and his works indicate his remarkable dexterity with both strong and fragile colours. Yusuf's detailed yet light touch they bring to their expression sets their work apart for its innate movement. Yusuf's abstract forms in fine pen and ink float in the expanse of space. Lord Ram and Buddha are the theme of senior artist Niren Sen Gupta's work. The artist's generousity of spirit and complete control over his forms wherein they heed to his calling is mirrored in his work where the abundance of joyous colours find their balance in a dance of perfection. He has allowed himself the freedom to let the 'isms' fall away to lead the way to a new ism - where he is at once the protagonist and the onlooker. But is it not one of the purposes of any art? - that miniscule moment when the creation, its creator and its audience become part of the larger whole of the creative impulse. ABOUT ENKITA ARTS Enkita Arts is the first website by a multinational organisation to focus on Indian art exclusively as part of its endeavour to keep Indian and international audiences all over the world in touch with today's fast-moving world of contemporary Indian art. In the wake of the much celebrated growth and recognition of contemporary Indian art, its effects on art making and art consuming practices, will be examined by our internationally renowned experts. While exploring the endless possibilities of a liberated Indian art scene, the idea is to serve as a platform for art making, critical re-evaluation, reformulations of notions of art and artistic practices, seeking to radicalize the definition of art. The idea is to focus on art and artists who have the potential to or already are important in shaping the history of, contemporary Indian art, or attempting to explore new directions. Our chosen mandate is art that is both mainstream and fringe. Fully celebrating the potential of the mainstream, we will try to negotiate the ephemeral space between the dynamics of the 'emergent', 'dominant', and the 'residual' forces within contemporary artistic practices. Not treating the hugely vibrant traditional, folk and tribal arts as second grade activity, the idea will be to help provide a platform to arts and artists from diverse regions of the country to international audiences. ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
ALKA RAGHUVANSHI Born in 1961, Dr Alka Raghuvanshi, is India's first trained art curator, having trained at the Goldsmiths College, London and the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford. She has curated and designed major exhibitions many of which travelled to other parts of the country and the world. A keen painter herself, her solo shows have drawn valued response from both audiences and critics alike and is able to perceive and experience the various arts from the vantage position of a doer as well as an onlooker. She has participated in 25 important group shows in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Dubai and her paintings form part of a some important private and public collections both in India and abroad. Her work features in this year's Adana Biennale in Turkey and the worldwide exhibition on Giuseppe Garibaldi emanating from Italy. In her writing career on the arts spanning nearly 26 years, she has 20 books to her credit including the best selling publications - A Moment in Time and Pathfinders - artistes of one world.
MANISHA GAWADE Born in 1974, MA from Delhi University, she has been trained in various forms of painting including glass and textiles in several parts of the world. Manisha\'s work has been selected to be part of 49th National Exhibition of Art held by Lalit Kala Akademi. Her work formed a part of Silent Dream, Voluble Realities as part of the Gulf Art Fair in Dubai, where she also painted the falcon - this year's mascot of the Fair. Her solo shows Parallel Realities were held in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Jaipur. Her solo show Mindscapes of Mindspaces was held in Dubai. She has participated in several group shows including Transitions held at Art Enterance in Mumbai, Reflections Within at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Guernica to Nithari and Buddha Mudra held at Canvas Art Gallery, Art for Concern by the Concern India Foundation, New Delhi, Encore! Art for Prabhat, New Delhi, Annual Show 2007 of Galerie Sara Arakkal, Bangalore, Transitional Realities at FM Art Gallery, NOIDA, Recent Works of Gallery 1x1, Dubai, Resounding Echoes at Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow and Savera at New Delhi. Her work forms part of some serious art collections in India and France. SHRIDHAR IYER Born in 1961, Shridhar Iyer has been exhibiting since 1985. Awarded in 41 National Contemporary Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, AIFACS All India Painting Exhibition, SCZCC-Nagpur,Madhya Pradesh State Award. Selected shows include Leela Art Gallery-Bombay, Birla Academy of Art Kolkata, Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai, Crimson Art Gallery, Mumbai, Home shows by The Gallery San Francisco. Art Bazar-Park Hotel, New Delhi, Indo-Russian International Art Exhibition New Delhi, Millenium show by Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai. His collections can be seen with I K Gujral, Priya Paul, Keshav Malik, Madhu Lamba, Alka Raghuvanshi, Bharat Bhavan, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and many private collection in India and abroad. SUBRATA BISWAS Born in 1974, Subrato Biswas is an M.V.A. from Rabindra Bharati University. He is a recipient of the Rajya Charukal Puraskar of West Bengal. Selected participation includes Annual Exhibition of Information Centre, 49th National Art Exhibition Lalit Kala Akademi, Aspiration for Peace Exhibition, Rotary Sadan, Kolkata, 2006 Art Ensemble Kolkata, Annual Exhibition of Information Centre, Kolkata, organised by the Doon School Old Boys' Society in Chicago, Cleveland, Ohio, San Francisco. His works are in major collection in India and abroad. Currently working as Fine Arts Lecturer in Tecnia Institute, New Delhi. YUSUF Born in 1952, Yusuf did National Diploma in Fine Arts and sculpture from Gwalior. He was awarded the Government of India Fellowship, QIONGDAO International Print Biennial of China, Shikhar Samman by Government of India Fellowship HRD Ministry, New Delhi, by the Department of Culture, Government of M.P, State Raza Award, Bhopal. He has participated in exhibitions at Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi, Chemould Art Gallery, Mumbai, Art Heritage, New Delhi, Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, Bhubaneswar, Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, Gallery Shes, Asahikawa, Japan, Gallery Tokeida, Saporo- Japan, ABC Gallery, Banaras, Art Indus New Delhi, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, Graphic Expressions, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, Gallery Espace, New Delhi, Kleinsassen-Fulda, Germany, 4th Egyptian International Print Triennial. Presently he is working in Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. DHARMENDRA RATHORE Born in 1965 Dharmendra Rathore completed his Diploma in Painting from the Rajasthan School of Art, Jaipur and obtained his MFA from the Delhi College of Art, New Delhi. He has also won various scholarships from AIFACS, Rajasthan Biennial, State Lalit Kala Akademi and a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development in appreciation of his works. Rathore has participated in several exhibitions both in India and abroad. His solo shows have been exhibited at: Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi, Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai, Shridharani Art Gallery New Delhi, Bajaj Art Gallery Mumbai, Nehru Art Centre Mumbai, Triveni Art Gallery New Delhi, Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi - 1997, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai , Delhi-, Vadhera Art Gallery New Delhi. His works have travelled to Denmark, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Mauritius and have been featured in exhibitions like-"Harmony Show", "Save the Children" and "The Joy of Life." He has also participated in the First Biennale of Contemporary Art held in Arad, Romania. Dharmendra's works are in the collection of Glenbarra Art Museum Japan, Wolgon Universit6y of Australia, Ambassador of Denmark, Ambassador of Singapore, Mauritius, German Embassy, New Delhi, Sahitya kala Parishad, College of Art and with many other eminent personalities in India, U.K, U.S.A, South Korea, Germany and Japan. SANGEETA SINGH Born in 1968, Sangeeta Singh studied art at Triveni Kala Sangam and did Art Appreciation Course from National Museum, New Delhi. She has been awarded 'Junior Fellowship' from Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2007-2009) and Silver Medal from All India Agnipath Art Society. Her selected shows include exhibitions at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Auschlossl, Graz-Austria, Pfarrheim Knittllefled, Austria, Radkersberg Kloch - Austria, Dhoomimal Art Gallery New Delhi, Lokayata: Mulk Raj Anand Centre-Delhi, Villa Doria - Italy, Muzeum Gallery - Slovenia, Kormend - Hungary, Bagash Art Gallery - Dubai, India Art Fair- Habiart Foundation, Raddison Hotel- New Delhi, Canvas Art Gallery, II Ramo d'oro -Italy. Participated in 79th Annual All India Art Exhibition at AIFACS-New Delhi.and VI Women's International Conference at Graz (Austria). Her collections can be seen with ICCR, Caritas, Virgin Atlantic, Tony Blair and several private collections in India and abroad. The artist lives and works in New Delhi.
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