PRESS RELEASE 2 - Exhibition : Contemporary Paintings of Avinash Godbole

Agony and Ecstasy...

Agony and Ecstasy penned by Irving Stone the American novelist in 1961 encapsulates the life of Michelangelo the famous Renaissance artist perfectly I also choose this as a point of entry to talk about Avinash Godbole’s life and work, for nothing could be far from truth. Avinash Godbole knows the pain of being landlocked when your heart dreams of flight. He had a long and fulfilling career in the world of advertising, where he donned many hats; creative director, illustrator and mentor. Over the years he won many accolades and gained respect as an illustrator whose lines spoke volumes about, sometimes more than the words. Looking back it is difficult to tell whether he would continued in the same mien, but life had something else in store for him. He had a stroke which turned his life around, but Godbole was one who never gave up, supported by his wife he did not pick up from where he left but forged a new path. he chose the metaphor of line and colour to express his life after a stroke in his paintings.

(Kokilaben Hospital. Avinash Godbole had come for his regular checkup:2010)

Godbole picked up his pencil again, this time with his left hand. It was a slow start. It was like learning to paint all over again. He realised that his brain was still intact: it had ideas, creativity, a vision for beauty. It took three years to train his left arm to bring that vision to reality. 

(Untitled : Acrylic on paper 30x20 inches Recent work by Avinash Godbole)

He started painting full time after he retired as an executive creative director. Three years ago, he came up with a series of 25 paintings describing his tryst with the stroke. His doctor encouraged him to use his works to spread awareness and give hope to stroke patients on life after the stroke, then began a series of exhibitions in Mumbai and Delhi. He was also invited to exhibit his paintings at the World Stroke Association's conference in Brazil in 2012. Hope is the message he wishes to convey to stroke patients and their families. In this solo exhibition he is showcasing a body of 30 works, these unlike his earlier works speak of pain and desire to come to terms with what life has dealt him. The subjects are pared down to the very core = what does it all mean? How does one tackle the flesh? The desires, the unsaid wishes.They are of diverse subjects but what binds them together is the presence of emotions; be it the musician singing a soulful song or a head, each convey a passion. The choice of colours is bold and the strokes strong and unwavering, together they create a painting that not only moves the viewer but stuns with its intensity.

(Face of Fear Dry : Pastel on Hand made paper 24x22 inches
Recent work by Avinash Godbole)

Godbole’s work is expressive and he deals with deep philosophical questions that besiege man throughout life especially if faced with a life altering calamity as he did. His work is introspective. Another recurrent subject is that of sexuality and how we human beings deal with or rather shun it, but he faces it head on and puts before us a rather unabashed depiction. In fact in his career as an illustrator he received acclaim for his work done for Debonair magazine through the 80’s. 

(Untitled : Acrylic on Hand made Paper 41x28 inches
Recent work by Avinash Godbole)

Avinash Godbole graduated from the Sir J.J.School of Art, Mumbai, in 1966. He taught in the same institute before working as a creative director in some of the top agencies across the country. All along his forte was and continues to be his illustrations. His works have been part of magazines and newspapers for over 30 years. He was inducted to the Commercial Artists Guild (CAG) Hall of fame in the year 1999. Godbole, though actively involved in advertising, always had painting as his first love. He continued to paint all along, though his hectic schedule didn’t leave him enough time to devote towards creating a large body of works for exhibitions. However, he has been showing his works regularly in galleries in Mumbai since 1997. His works deal with a wide range of subjects, his main concern being ‘life’. One can also see that the artist draws heavily from different Indian genres, like Tantra, the Kamasutra, and various folk traditions.

The artist lives and works in Mumbai.                              

- By Yamini Telekar

(Note : This PRESS RELEASE for all Indian news paper, leading PR Agency  and online social media, please share )

Details : A show of recent paintings by Avinash Godbole on 14to 20 April 2014.

11AM to 7PM (Open on Sunday 11AM to.3PM)

At  Art Gate Gallery 1st floor, Chheda Sadan, J Tata Road,above Satyam collection, next to Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020.

A show of recent paintings by Avinash Godbole at Art Gate Gallery

A show of recent paintings by Avinash Godbole on 14to 20 April 2014.

11AM to 7PM (Open on Sunday 11AM to.3PM)

At  

Art Gate Gallery 

1st floor, Chheda Sadan, J Tata Road,above Satyam collection, next to Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020.

The Legacy of the Master- Vilas Tonape

There is an anonymous quote that reads, “Art is the highest form of hope”; it propels us into a deeper understanding of creation, beauty and nature. Art gives so much to the human spirit, whether you’re standing before the greatest masterpieces in the world or your own canvas. Being an artist means more than simply expressing oneself; it is a story being told—a story of courage and truth, a story of hope. 

(Vilas Tonape in his studio)

Vilas Tonape is a man of extraordinary depth and expression. His roots go back to India where he first picked up the weapon of mass creation that would ignite a fire—a paintbrush. He has excelled in all he does, receiving his BFA in drawing and painting with distinction, from the Sir J.J. School of Art, University of Bombay and his MFA in painting from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. His work has been exhibited internationally in Bombay, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Ontario; he works in both figurative and non-representational modes.

"Rolando", 2011, Graphite on paper, 22" x 18"

He has competed across the United States and India, winning many awards that showcased his remarkable artistry in the field. Tonape has judged many artexhibitions, worked at several renowned schools and universities, and has conducted workshops and presented discourses at numerous venues. There is a natural magnetic energy surrounding the passion-infused professor. He engages people with professionalism and pride. Countless artists across the world have been under the watchful eye of Vilas Tonape, and have only bettered themselves because of his mentorship.

"Drunk Detective", 2014, Pastel on paper, 25" x 19"

Beyond all the awards, of which there are dozens upon dozens, beyond the numerous recommendations and features in magazines, beyond all of those lines on a resume, there is something that only can be recognized as a deep need to create. This fire in Tonape’s spirit is made evident when he stands before students and artists alike, blowing the dust off of the goldthat they already possess within. If teaching is required, then demonstrating what it is that the students must grasp, is vital. Vilas Tonape not only introduces concepts of the Renaissance and Baroque Masters, he exhibits the techniques before his students’ very eyes. He focuses solely on what his eye sees in human features or folds of cloth, and he lets his hands show his students the way. Poetry unrivaled in beauty and grace emerges on the canvas before Tonape, and with one small gesture or movement the subject jumps off the page. 

"Anna Lisa", 2014, Pastel on paper, 22" x 17"

With only mere words to convey what this man does to his students, I will say that he bestows a gift beyond measure to them—the gift of art. Tonape is a teacher, an educator, and above all, he is an artist. He challenges those around him to dig deeper into themselves. He pushes himself to get better with each pastel and each painting that he does, only accepting the utmost excellence. There are few in this world that are both artist and educator; there are even fewer who grant others the opportunity to discover the magnificent world of a paintbrush or pencil.

                                                Elliana Hillhouse

                                                Trinidad, Colorado, USA
Published : 2014 _ art blogazine

PRESS RELEASE Exhibition: Contemporary Paintings of Avinash Godbole

PRESS RELEASE Exhibition: Contemporary Paintings of Avinash Godbole Date: April 14 – 21, 2014 Venue: Art Gate Gallery, Churchgate, Mumbai 

Byline: The Art Gate Gallery hosts an exhibition of contemporary paintings by Mumbai based Artist Avinash Godbole. 

(Artist: Avinash Godbole)

About the exhibition: In this solo exhibition Avinash Godbole is showcasing a body of 30 works, inspired by his own recovery from a stroke that left him crippled 11 years ago, and the gradual re-picking up of the brush one hand at a time. These paintings cover diverse subjects ranging from sexuality to philosophy, explorations of the human mind and resurgence from pain. What binds them together is the presence of emotions; whether it be the musician singing a soulful song or a human head - each conveys passion. The choice of colours is bold and the strokes strong and unwavering. Together they create paintings that not only move the viewer but stun with their intensity. 

(Untitled  :Acrylic On Canvas, 48 x 84"in by Avinash Godbole)

About the artist’s work: Godbole’s technique is expressive but his subjects introspective, as he deals with deep existentialist questions. Another recurrent subject is that of sexuality and how we human beings deal with or rather shuns it. Three years ago, Godbole created a series of 25 paintings describing his tryst with stroke. He was also invited to exhibit his paintings at the World Stroke Association's conference in Brazil last year. Hope is the message he wishes to convey to stroke patients and their families. This exhibition is a continuation and tangential progression to that theme. 

(Untitled  :Acrylic on handmade paper, 33 x 23"in by Avinash Godbole)

About the artist: Avinash Godbole graduated from the Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai, in 1966. He taught in the same institute before working as a creative director in some of the top agencies across the country. All along his forte was and continues to be his illustrations. His work has been part of magazines and newspapers for over 30 years. He was inducted to the Commercial Artists Guild (CAG) Hall of fame in the year 1999. 

Godbole, though actively involved in advertising, always had painting as his first love. He continued to paint all along, through his hectic schedule. He has been showing his work regularly in galleries in Mumbai since 1997.  

The artist lives and works in Mumbai. 

He can be contacted at: +91 98206 57358 or emailed at ratangodbole@gmail.com

Exhibition details: April 14 – 20 (11.00 am to 7.00 pm) and April 21 from 11.00 am – 3.00 pm Art Gate Gallery 1st Floor (above Satyam Collection) Chheda Sadan 115, J Tata Road Churchgate Mumbai, India