Lines by DIBAKAR DAS - solo show - NIPPON

 

Lines by 

DIBAKAR DAS

- solo show -

Preview Date: 

12 / 08 / 2022       

Time: 5.30 pm to 8.30pm ( Open to all @RSVP)  

Date: 

13 to 18 / 08/ 2022       

Time - 3 to 8pm (Appointment only)

Sale & More details: Tel: 022 66333997. M: 9820510599 

R.S.V.P  "Please respond." M:9820510599, E: info@nippongallery.com 

NIPPON

30/32, 2nd Floor, Deval Chambers,

Nanabhai Lane, Flora Fountain, Fort,

Mumbai – 400 001, India Tel: 022 66333997.

Shri D.V. Halbhavi started an Art school in Dharwad in 1935, which was the first Art school in Karnataka.

The work of a veteran artist of the past era from Dharwad, Karnataka, Late D.V. Halbhavi has been showcased in a solo art exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, M. G. Road, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai 400 001 from 9^th to 15^th August 2022 between 11 am to 7pm. 

This show has been organized by his son Suresh Halbhavi.

This work mostly in oil on canvas, water colours on paper, stumping powder on paper and pen & Ink on paper will exemplify subtle nuances of the varieties of artwork made by him during his art journey.

This show was inaugurated at Jehangir Art Gallery, on 9^th August 2022 by Chief Guest – Prof. Vishwanath Sable,   Director (I/C) Directorate of Art, Mumbai in the Presence of Honorable Guests Shri. Suhas Bahulkar – Eminent Artist and Writer, Shri.Chandrakant G. Bellad – Chitrakala Shilpi Shri D.V. Halbhavi Rashtriya Smaraka Trust, Dharwad and Shri Suresh D. Halbhavi – Eminent Artist.

Water colour on paper

D.V. Halbhavi hailed from Dharwad, Karnataka. He had a strong desire to study and propagate visual fine arts and drawings in future from his young age. Coming from a well-known family of Dharwad, he had his art education at sir J.J. School of Arts Mumbai. Then he participated in many professional activities related to arts in contemporary field and displayed his art works in solo art exhibitions at Hubli, Dharwad, Honawar, Bijapur, Karwar, Dandeli etc. He worked as Judge for many drawing grade examinations and art exhibitions at State and National Levels. He wrote 2 books on arts and was a proud recipient of several awards and appreciation from the recognized institutions of good reputation. A proud recipient of honours from Rashtrapati Bhavan for his work on dome there, he was a judge for several exhibitions of State level and Lalit Kala Akademi. Shri D.V. Halbhavi started an Art school in Dharwad in 1935, which was the first Art school in Karnataka, which was considered to be a model for other Art schools started in other places much later. He established School of Art in 1935 and impacted training and art education to several aspirants till this day. He has worked on the advisory board of Federation of Art Institutions Mumbai, Davangere School of Arts & Crafts and many more. His works are in proud collection of many art collectors of national and international reputation all of globe.

(Oil colour on canvas)

The present exhibition has displayed several works made by him in his art career. The most significant amongst his presentations in this show include landscapes, portraits, life studies in realistic style, Antique studies, religious works etc. The portraits are noteworthy for their anatomical studies and textural finesses and relevant details. Other works like landscapes and life studies showcase the relevant details and seasonal particulars. Antique studies and religious works illustrate the historical and spiritual fervours and nuances of the traditional heritage and other details. One can clearly notice the command of the artist over the medium and techniques used for the aesthetic and artistic adornment of the work with the apt hues in the relevant perspectives of visual arts. 

From: 9^th to 15^th August 2022

Solo Exhibition of Paintings & Drawings

By

Veteran artist Late D.V. Halbhavi

 

VENUE:

Jehangir Art Gallery

161-B, M.G. Road.

Kala Ghoda, Mumbai 400 001

Timing: 11am to 7pm

Contact: 99016 45744

Creating Spaces

My art practice revolves around drawing and exhibiting in different ways.  I continuously seek to adopt new techniques and learn new skills to enhance my art-making process. The foundation of my drawings, audio-video, collages, and paintings is on the psychogeographical concept. Psychogeography is deeply rooted in illustrations and other subordinate mediums in mixed-media installations. During my Erasmus period at ABK, Stuttgart (September 2019 - March 2020).  I wished to have an exhibition, to make this opportunity worthwhile. Prof. Holger Bunk, a reputed German artist, suggested space in corridor walls, near the classroom, for the show. Using this space, I was permitted to curate an entire exhibition titled ‘Pop-Up Ausstellung’ which translates as ‘Pop-up Exhibition’. Transforming the empty corridor space was an enlightening process where I had a hands-on experience learning the nuances of curation and exhibition design. 

The Erasmus period at ABK, Stuttgart was an excellent chance to be a part of an exhibition which made my Erasmus period more substantial. ‘Pop-Up Ausstellung’ gave me the opportunity to execute the new challenges which provided imperative learnings and experiences. I tried something new and made it successful with the help of my colleagues, technicians and Prof. Bunk. In the ‘Pop-Up Ausstellung’ exhibition, I decided to draw on the wall, which was approximately 18ft high and 13ft wide. I pushed myself to draw something on a vast scale. The size of the wall gave me the freedom to execute as much detail as possible within that particular time. 

The ideology of psychogeography was deeply rooted in the drawings done on the wall of the corridor. The flatness and physicality of the maps are emphasised in the illustrative drawing done in black acrylic paint on the white wall. There existed a sense of uniformity in the application of monochrome and the usage of man-made structures for mark-making on a monumental scale. The city has a relation to my physical and mental behaviour. The act of walking, wandering and observing the city’s details, are automatically implemented in those acts in drawings. It’s representing a visual diary to the viewer. This work gave contingency to be more detailed precisely. 

 

Lefebvre’s texts from the ‘The Production of Space’ explain space from multi-dimensional perspectives. The space's physicality serves a purpose in diverse aspects. It depends on the human’s psychology and other external factors. In the lecture, Darling explains, “…we need to get rid of a bad habit thinking about the space is a per-exiting an unchanging container which people fill up and move in. For Lefebvre, space is produced by people, consequently, it is fundamentally social. How people built these spaces is highly contingent upon when they are producing it. Lefebvre was Marxist, and as you might guess, the term ‘production’ is not accidental!” (Lecture 2: The Production of Space, 2017). The space serves purposeful relationships in a multidisciplinary way with every aspect of the society’s collective element.

(The ‘transformation’ of the space)

The space has flexibility which can be achieved by having a sole purpose or the intention which leads to the production of the space. And as per our desire related to the space, that can be adaptative. According to Lefebvre in, The Production of Space, “(Social) space is a (social) product...Many people will find it hard to endorse the notion that space has taken on, within the present mode of production, within society as it is, a sort of reality of its own, a reality distinct from, yet much like...Many people, finding this claim paradoxical, will want proof. The more so because of the further claim that the space thus produced also serves as a tool of thought and action; that in addition to being a means of production it is also a means of control, and hence of dominance, of power.” (1991, p.26). The ‘Social’ constituent of the space is the essential aspect. Thus, the ‘Social’ constituent leads to producing space as a ‘production’ of space. The text concludes with the words ‘dominance of power’, which has assisted in defining the purpose and leading to the implementation of dominance over space.

As per the ideology of Lefebvre, there are conflicts in multifarious perspectives for understanding space and its sole objectives for an individual’s adoption. For me, the Lefebvre text explains that every desolate expanse and every mode of production produces a space which is its own space; it is probably not too difficult to imagine how societies do this in a materialistic format.

 

It is onerous to study space in one particular dimension for me. The creation of drawing in the common corridor of ABK, Stuttgart was a new interpretation of that particular space. There is a change in the psychology for understanding that particular space in the exhibition for a week, as can be noticed in the images. It was a production of space in my perspective and interpretations shared by the other artists and audience, who were also participating in that space, transformed into an exhibition corridor.

 

(For ‘Pop-Up Ausstellung, the common corridor space turns out to be an exhibition space for the period of time-based on the ideology of Lefebvre.)

The vision of producing space in a visual format from my experience of the urban environment, where I travelled. I read urban spaces as knowledge, and action as a theory and analysis. Based on that I applied a methodological process of immersion and detachment for the creation of a bird’s eye view drawing of Stuttgart on the wall. There is an intersection of the different spaces for producing unitary space in the visual format for the audience. It was a representation in form my experience and observation. The viewer also similarly experiences travelling and commuting via space which I have created in the wall drawings.

The Lefebvre text also explains their vivid modes for production of space spatialization, from natural space to absolute space which plays a more complex role. It also has significance in community aspects and expanse produced as a social space. Every communal space has a historical note known by its dialectical use in everyday practices and perceptions of consumerism or urbanism.  In my case, there is a process of metamorphosis regarding the common corridor space into an exhibition space.  This change of space is temporary and also creates a moment in the history of transformation in terms of capacity.  The wall drawing and corridor space have a playful engagement in particular, which can be accidental because of the abstract quality of the drawing. Similarly, there is an engagement between the corridor space’s elements, the wall drawing and the viewer. This playfulness is creating a critical aspect to establishing a relationship between the viewer and the wall drawing. This metamorphosis gives an ability to think creatively about the transformed things in the minds of the audiences. 

The transformation of the corridor into an exhibition area was fundamentally an exercise in how people perceived the space. It shows that the space is highly contingent upon how they are producing the space by their physical participation. Therefore, Lefebvre says that every space, hence every mode of production delivers space as per the people's perception as they participated in that space. 

 (Title: Untiled / Medium: Acrylic on Wall / Physical Dimension: 18ft x 13ft) [Right side of the work.]

The space is not the passive locus of social relationships. It is embedded in three vital fundamentals: physical, mental and social relations. All three fundamentals are inseparable. Understanding the space by physically analysing and implementing our ideology. The mental construct of the space drives us to be present in the physicality of the space.  The social relation is excited in the space. It was my sincere efforts to change that space’s physicality into an exhibition space for a short period and established the mental and social relations of the audience associated with it.

In the transformation of the corridor into an exhibition area; I perceived the whole process as the ‘Creating Space’.  Establish the relationship between the space and participating audience in the space.  Excerpt from the ‘PARTICIPATION SPACES’ by Taylor-Smith E., “Invented spaces are bottom-up in origin, while invited spaces are top-down: citizens are invited to participate in a space opened by an authority or institution. This often-cited conceptualisation encompasses issues around the initiation and control of participation. Further, participants’ perceptions of the space may form or inhibit their behaviour: [...]” (online, 2012) The text from the ‘PARTICIPATION SPACES’ justifies my situation. The corridor space was invented. As the citizens are invited to participate in a space; Similarly, I invited the art liking audience in the space, participated audience-initiated perception of the space as per my perseverance of the space; inhibit the behaviour and control the space. 

Artist: Rohit S Kale

Coverley M., 2018, Psychogeography. Harpenden, Harts, Oldcastle Books, pp. 120-121.

Debord G., 1983, Society of the Spectacle. Detroit, USA, Black and Red.

Emma Office Site, 2020, Celebrate Power of Ten 10/10/10 [online]. Available at: https://www.eamesoffice.com/blog/celebrate-powers-of-ten-day-101010-video/. [Accessed on 20th July 2020].

Farr I., 2012, Memory, London, Co-published by Whitechapel Gallery and The MIT Press 

Fs Blog, 2013. fs.blog.com, Thought and Opinion The Art Of Observation: The Two Types Of Observations [online].Available at: https://fs.blog/2013/04/the-art-of-observation/. [Accessed on 17th July 2020].

Lefebvre H; 2018, Frogcast, Philosophy: Atheist philosophers Philosophy: Continental philosophers, Philosophy: Marxist humanists, Philosophy: Social philosophers, [YouTube]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-jp2Hr2d1M&t=63s. [Accessed on: 25th June 2020]

Lefebvre H., 1991, The Production of Space. Victoria, Australia, Blackwell Publishing.

Lecture 1: The Urban Revolutions, 2017, Darling E. J., [YouTube]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aph_ThRVfU. [Accessed on: 25th June 2020]

Lecture 2: The Production of Space, 2017, Darling E. J., [YouTube]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WnQYqtETKw, [Accessed on: 25th June 2020]

Taylor-Smith E; 2012, PARTICIPATION SPACES, Participation Space Studies, The 7th 2016 International Conference, Fourth international conference on eParticipation (ePart 2012). Kristiansand, Norway, September 2012, [online], Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304918858_Non-public_eParticipation_in_Social_Media_Spaces, [Accessed on: 8th Aug  2022]

The Production od Space: Henri Lefebvre| Ani Meryl Paul | Department of Sociology, 2020, Paul M. A., [YouTube]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH-p9H43AiA, [Accessed on: 24 July 2022]

Rohit S. Kale

Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/_rohit.kale/

@ARTBLOGAZINE._2022

Art blogazine_Team _Delhi

The exhibition curated by senior art critic and curator Uma Nair presents 30 artworks of indigenous art of the Gonds.

 Press Release

1^st August – 20^th August, 2022

11am – 7 pm

 

AAKRITI ART GALLERY PRESENTS VAN KATHA

PADMA SHRI BHAJJU SHYAM 

Curator Uma Nair 

 

Aakriti Art Gallery presents a solo show Van Katha, of prolific Gond artist, Padma Shri Bhajju Shyam who initially worked as a watchman before becoming an apprentice to his uncle, the artist Jangarh Singh Shyam. Shyam nurtured his artistic talents by filling in the figures and patterns on his uncle’s canvases until he was ready to create his own works. These works have been created exclusively for this show at Aakriti Art Gallery in Kolkata.

Ref No. C1068  - Kaaga - Arylic on paper - 30 x 22 in  - 2017

The exhibition curated by senior art critic and curator Uma Nair presents 30 artworks of  indigenous art of the Gonds. Bhajju is an artist with an exceptional talent for unique narrative experimentation with forms and creates a definite statement of installing  traditional Gond art into a contemporary platform. The exhibition also features Gond art, in a series of stories that throb within the creatures of the forest. The 20 paintings on canvas and 10 works on paper displayed are unique expressions of Bhajju's mind and imagination and encapsulate the history and contemporary times of the regions. The artworks are significant for their historic and academic relevance as well as for their aesthetic value.

 

Curator Uma Nair says: "Bhajju's world of forest tales stems from traditionally-inspired narratives that have been passed through the ages, transforming simple subjects into sacred beings. Themes of tradition and simple beliefs… are clearly comprehended in all the works and sketches displayed. But through it all we glimpse a love of trees and nature. Bhajju is important for the many stories he tells as well as his finesse with creating Darwinian dialogues in Indian indigenous intuition. The birds, the horses, the swine, the elephant all throb in the rhythms of the forest. The show in many ways extols the truth of the great Hermann Hesse when he said: ' Trees are sanctuaries.'

 

The genre in this suite goes back to century old traditional knowledge which has been passed down generations. Requiring a distinct approach and understanding, often varying from the modern sensibility, indigenous art speaks a language that invites exploration and discovery in the simplicity of beliefs of the life cycle. The visual representation presents a refreshing lexicon of motifs, compositions and styles. The show opens on 30th July 2022 and runs till August 20th 2022.

Award winning artist Shyam’s work has been exhibited at galleries and museums around the world, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Galleria Arteutopia, Milan and the Museum of London, London. Shyam has also published several books including the award winning book The London Jungle Book which was published in 2004 and translated into Italian, Dutch, French, Korean and Portuguese. Shyam was the first Gond artist to work with the St+art India Foundation, painting a mural in the Lodhi Art District, New Delhi. In 2018, Shyam was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to art.

 

Curator Uma Nair

 

An art critic for 32 years and a curator for two decades, Uma Nair has a special connection with artists from the Bengal School. She discovered Paresh Maity, Sanjay Bhattacharya and Sudip Roy in the 1990s. She wrote the first book Paresh Maity at 25 years in 2005.She has curated a number of solo exhibitions of these artists.

Her major work with Bengal School artists has been select retrospectives of Gopal Ghose (2015 Kumar Gallery), Jamini Roy (2016 Dhoomimal Gallery), Prodosh Dasgupta ( 2020 Akar Prakar ). She curates solo show after following an artist for at least ten years. Her next show is Muzaffar Ali's 50 year retrospective at Bikaner house in Delhi January 2023.

 

For more details about the show, please get in touch with Komal Jaiswal at artshop@aakritiartgallery.com / +91 9830411116. The show can also be viewed at www.aakritiartgallery.com

Aakriti Art Gallery

Orbit Enclave, 1st Floor

12/3A, Hungerford Street

Kolkata – 700 017

Phone: +91 33 22893027/5041

( Sunday Closed )