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http://asiasociety.org/philippines/asia-society-photo-challenge#node-32215

“…Through my work I like to question, for instance, a human ability to handle ugliness; and why it shouldn’t? To what extent a human being could digest ugliness?”…

“…Through my work I like to question, for instance, a human ability to handle ugliness; and why it shouldn’t? To what extent a human being could digest ugliness?”…

An upcoming talent from Mumbai, Deven Bane has a free flowing, gushing energetic creativity that he projects through his sarcastic and critical yet thoughtful visual and wordy comments that he makes in his mutilated figures; the higher version of Doodling. For Deven Bane, Doodling turns into art and his art represents current global society. Let’s review his energetic start of career through his interview. 

JK.: Doodling basically projects care free attitude, what inspired you to develop it as a serious art?

 D.B.: Earlier I did only portraits. Though the overall body of work was ugly and in that sense beautiful at the same time to me, I did call them heads, as they ended up with two vertically parallel strokes to give a feeling of neck or a tilted face. But I felt some blankness in them as they did not actually resemble any human being; I just thought those should. And they were just mere doodlings, I thought maybe I could give it a try, working with softwares and converting this absurd game of finding faces in doodles and using them on photographs of any person. And the result was  quite  wonderful , so I kept on making them,  doodling just happened and it became prominent  when I started working on magazine covers , I thought I might get sued  for  working on their  copyrights, so at first attempt I just ignored them or  rather just deleted them from my  work, but in that process I thought I could just use these titles or may be  convert them into comments ,or use them as my own  subjects, the subjects which just strike me randomly. 

JK.:  Do you personally feel your creations are buoyant/ cheerful?

D.B.: To a certain extent yes, they are; but it all depends on the type of image I am working on at a particular of time and whatever I work on them. They are all taken from  my  past experiences or the conversations which I had or read  or just from the mere cracking of jokes that I remember while chatting with my friends  just instances that come to my mind at that point of time. I present them or sometimes play with them or sometimes the result is absurd with no connections whatsoever.

 JK.: Do they have any message or are they just visual treats?

D.B.: Yes they do have, because when I digitally or sometimes manually manipulate these portraits, the portraits of men and women who are already well powered or famed, I try to create an action which definitely is not adorable or attractive. And yes, through my work I like to question, for instance, a human ability to handle ugliness; and why it shouldn’t? To what extent a human being could digest ugliness? Why does only beauty survive and what is the real beauty? Why such polished faces are hammered for many years and so on…These things just come to my mind while working, also I am still working on them. I think doodling sometimes does give a childish and uncanny or a humorous touch to the work.  

JK.: Which personalities have influenced you?

D.B.: Many…Souza was the first and the biggest influence. Initially   I was not able to understand  his works but definitely was amazed by looking at his body of work, so I just  read  whatever I could find about him in books or on internet, then  I  also liked the works of Duchamp, Frank Auerbach, Glenn Brown,Chad Wyss, Rosemary Cronin. I have this  stubborn  approach  for searching artists on net  when I come and stop at a certain  phase  of my work . Whenever I feel that my works are taking a slight turn in visual sense, I do read about them or do some R&D if I find them interesting, but whatever is the result I continue my process. Such R&D just makes me aware of my contemporaries or gives me a direction ahead.

 JK.: Do you like any of your contemporaries?

D.B.: Yes, there are many like,  Sudarshan Shetty, Manjunath Kamath, Atul Dodhiya, Yashwant Deshmukh, Nasreen Mohmmedi,Nikhil Chopra, Rashid Rana, Valson Koorma Koleri, Ritesh Meshram , Sreyas karle, Prajakta Potnis,Tushar Jog and even most recent artist almost of my age if u would ask , I like  few works of Ubik, Vikas Holle, Pratap Morey  and Bhuvanesh Gowda and  many more.

JK.: Tell us about your creative process.

D.B.:  I work on canvas, lenticular prints, magazine ads and their cuttings. It all starts by taking an image and then working accordingly using their scripts and compositions. I try to create some kind of link of my past experiences and actions, I try to memorize them which might be even foolish sometimes, or some kind of jokes shared at any instances. I match them with the image or sometimes overlap them on the picture or even tease or make funny comments on it. I try to destroy the basic pattern, once I feel that the image had enough of it I stop and try to have a look on the next day .the next day even might add something to the work I also try to play with the scripts or the writings that are there on it, I just shuffle the alphabets; sometimes they are absurd or even sometimes a comment. 

 JK.: Have you ever had any compliment or critical remark on your work? 

D.B.: Yes, I met and showed my works to a few artists. And  some  said that the works were quite women centric, or it should  have some political or racial stand , I can’t just say that how it would turn out next  or to what extent it will go , but yes I am still  working .    

JK.: Which genre of films or book do you prefer? 

D.B.: I like to watch all kinds of films and same is with books. Books with lots of experiences in it and also non- fiction types are a fun to read.   

JK.:  Any big bang plans in near future? 

D.B.: Still working…just getting to know few things every day.   

JK.: Do you believe in becoming guiding star after 50 years?

D.B.: I’ll b happy if I live that much, I am 27 now, and then I will be 77. Just awesome!

  JK.: One liner- Your approach towards life.    

 D.B.: Just trying my best to be outstanding

Ultimately self-exploration is very important in presenting your feelings - Madhuri Kathe

An Art Power from Mumbai, artists Madhuri Kathe attempts to take the viewers in the divine world through her creations. Her deep study and understanding of Indian (especially Hindu) scriptures and saints from Maharashtra has a profound impact on her work. The viewers would surely find relief observing her paintings. This interview highlights her artistic inclination.

JK.: . How would you justify/relate your Art to modern day chaos in the world?
MK : I wish my creations provide some relief and calm to the disturbed minds of all the viewers around the world who are equally the victim of chaos around, and indulge them into spiritual/divine experience of the space (Awakash) .

 JK.: You choose lighter shades, is there any particular reason for it? Which mediums do you prefer for your creation?

M.K.: No there is no particular reason for using lighter shades; it is only that, I just love to paint in pastel shades. I prefer mixed media with acrylic on canvas. I also use mesh material to get the desired texture that would project sensitivity.  I basically create to express the feelings rather than for showing the physical or tangible attributes.  I strongly wish to go beyond the conventional boundaries of visualization which is restricted to presentation of cognizable things and can be deciphered easily. So I work on abstract nature of beings and objects. I relate these abstracts to Indian traditional belief in Nirakar/ Amurt (invisible and immortal); just like the air, fragrance of a flower, shade of a tree which can just be felt but never seen in a particular form, yet they exist;  in spite of your acceptance or ignorance of them. These  are intangible stances- Nirakar/ Amurt.

JK.: What is the base  of these unique artworks?
M.K.: I believe in sense of belonging to Art, and doing it poignantly means you involuntarily create it even if it is eternal. So I aim to give an expression to eternity.

JK.:  Do you think academic guidance is necessary to express yourself?
M.K.: I don’t think that academic guidance is necessary for self expression. Yes, it does help in introducing you to already set theories and techniques; but ultimately self-exploration is very important in presenting your feelings.

JK.: Tell us something about Raghogarh School of Painting” and has any other ancient art influenced your creativity.
M.K.:  Raghogarh School of painting was my subject for Doctorate. It is a School of Painting dealing with unknown tradition of miniature paintings and its aesthetic values. I am happy to say that my thesis was the first documentation of that School of Painting.
No, my work is not influenced by any ancient art; it is my own choice of technique and medium. In my creative process eternal urge is a very important aspect, which I get from spiritual masters like Sant Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.  Besides them, I love to read Holy Gita. My entire journey of thought process generates from these divine spirits.

JK.: What is the role of technological development in Art? Do you take the help of modern means in your creative process?
MK- In modern times technology has entered even the art field. I too have modern outlook in my creative process, but I do not depend on technology for my creations.

JK.: Which artists work do you like the most?
M.K.: I like the work of artists like Sohan Quadri,  S.H.Raza, V .S .Gaitonde and Rajendra Dhawan.

JK.: Which other forms of Fine Art do you like? Do you have any hobby that nurtures your passion of painting?

M.K.:  I love Classical music and devotional songs/ hymns in Marathi which are called Abhangas. They gently draw me into the world of spirituality and greatly inspire my work.  So, listening to these hymns are both, a hobby and an inspiration for me.

JK.:  Installation art is trendy, do you wish to follow it and flow
with the current?
M.K.: For me the word trend is like a changing a season and fashion. And even though I like installations, I don’t like to compete in the rat race. I will surely do installation but at the right time when I would personally feel that I can convey some message to the viewers through my installation.

JK.:Any message to the artists pursuing degree and post graduation degree in Painting?
MK.: I would like to tell my young friends pursuing their degree or post graduation courses to keep up the spirit of creation in whatever circumstances they are, because it is a great medium to express ourselves.

JK: Truly artistic spirit!

Real Estate, Gold and Silver…now investment takes U turn on United Art Fair, Delhi

United Art Fair is the most eagerly awaited event of the year where more than 600 artists from India and abroad would exhibit their work; out of them more than hundred artists from Mumbai are participating, whom I address as a ‘creative power of Mumbai’. Every artist’s varying style of painting right on canvas, digital art, installation, sculpture is mind blogging. I enjoyed every bit as a writer exploring their creative work and their rainbow effect on me. 

Sanjeev Sonpimpere

Among the famed Conceptual artists, like Rajendra Kapse’s work is a comment on the political aspects full of fun, satire, probe into human nature and feelings, Sanjeev Sonpimpere, a figurative artists uses the style of fragmentation to portray the environs that he lives in, in which survival instinct masters over the exploitation, chaos and insecurity arising out of socio-political and financial upheaval.  




Artists may work in any form, be it realistic or abstract, Archana Mishra an abstract painter summarizes the ‘isms’ and creativity of every visual creation through her views on Abstract Art when she says, “I believe that the things that influence nature and even us, are almost abstract. The comprehension of wordless expressions is very powerful.” She exploits the fiercest element in nature and disciplines its negativity by applying positive expressions to it. The conceptual artists like, 

Raj More

Raj More captures the variations of Mumbai; its character and so his paintings have socio-political message and events that develop the personality of Mumbai, He brilliantly paints mostly by using knife as a tool and uses colours lavishly to present the intricacies of each element that he portrays in his work; be it train, taxi, crow or simply the ground. ”  

Among the digital artists, Tathi Premchand presents the rotational view of renowned laundry at Mahalakshmi, Mumbai in ‘The Indian Dhobi Ghat’ by working in digital media. The public places which are ignored yet most important are the main themes of his creative digital world. Another upcoming artist Deven Bane works in various digitalized concepts. Other standouts include, Satish Wavare with his works in black ink in canvas, the exercise is disarmingly simple; the contrasting effect of hues add dynamism to his work.  There are lots of illuminating connections to be drawn in these works. Sanjay Sawant specializes in his use of envelope material, silver foils as his medium; Sweety Joshi creates a magical effect by creating three dimensional works out of rice paper layers tied by threads and by literary burning these layers. Though she moulds these layers, yet she denies calling them installations and mounts every work and frames it. 

The upcoming artists like Umakant Tawde strikes on the materialistic and monetary aims of people in riches to rags, by presenting the image of money in the core of a sunflower. Money in place of seeds do convey the idea that every being that breaths needs money for survival. 

Javed Mulani

Javed Mulani, one of the best young masters in oil color develops the concepts revolving around multi dimensional common man’s experience of urban lifestyle.
A thoughtful generation of contemporary artists of Mumbai moves about the cityscapes, peaceful natural settings in their abstract and realistic projections. Though I did not meet many of them personally but going through their blogs and painting profiles on networking sites has opened up a treasury of artists in front of me and I would like to have deeper insight into their creative zeal.

I have earnest regards for all the artists who are in the photograph and all those who missed being the part of this photographic session due to some reasons. I also want to tell the artists whom I must have not mentioned in this personal review, that your work is equally impressive as others who are mentioned here. May all of yours zest and zeal always be high.

Thank you

 - Pankaja JK

Contemporary artist Rajendra Kapse,Sanjeev Sonpimpre,Tathi Premchand and Raj More, well know abstract painter Satish Wawre,Sanjay Sawant, Shila Joglekar,  Archana Mishra, Para Patil, Sweety Joshi, Madhuri Kate,New upcoming Parul Patni, Lalit Patil, Sandeep More, Umakant Tawde, Javed Mulani, Daljeet Sehra, Manish Waghdhare, Manjeet Makad....more in united art fair....