Art News Contemporary Art Gallery News

Indian art heritage , its rich tradition of Art and Culture

Indian art heritage is as rich as most of the established art based countries like Egypt, Greek, China, Japan, France, Italy and Spain etc. It has a specific manifestation in the field of Indian society, art, religion and human sentiments. It touches every sphere of human being and its adaptation is so wider even simple palm leaf and rock wall speaks its merits of beauty, aesthetics and pleasure. Each part of the whole nation express the spectromic echoes of art pleasure. It links urban to a rural, layman to a super human, poor to rich but not tired of to lubricate the long passed echoes of Indian artists spirituality, rather has become an integral part of our everyday lives.Indian Traditional Art was remained in the hands of the rural artisans. They used to deal with the indigenous materials, organic and inorganic materials readily available in their locality. Art activities were well linked with our religion, ritual and everyday lives. A group of people accepted art activities as their main profession who were well known as Kalakaras, they accepted the profession from father to the son, mother to the daughter without much variation in form, style, color, pattern, design and the subject matters. They were not only the painters, sculptors and architects but had good depth on literature, texts and allied grammatical resources.
Indian art is understood through its own grammar of Rasa theory, Sadanga(six principles of Indian art), attitude to Indian art principles of image making etc. It was based on India mythology, poetry of romantic love stories, raga-raginis on the value of Indian society, religion. beauty aesthetics and pleasure. Art education is completely based on ones attachment to the process and entirely not accomplished through an art institution said Sir Baladev Moharatha, Head of Deptt. Painting (Indian Style), He said, � Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of LIVES-LIFE of values and life of valuables, values are left aside and when values are ignored the person concerned gets devalued. While the commodification of art is a slogan all-around, some people are still there experimenting with the values of art which is beyond commercialization�.
Smt. Sailabala Nayak, Instructor Deptt. Of Painting(Indian Style) said, � The Tradition and culture are the real identity of a civilized status or of a family. Now in the process of globalization it is difficult to protect and preserve the tradition and culture. Likewise when the student of an art institution displays a picture or submits for exhibition or competition, interestingly enough, the beholders or jury members search for modernity, then in facing the remark that the pictorial language is not readable. Such contrast opinion compels a student, sometimes, to be confused and express him/her- self in a vaguely modern way. But this should not happen�.
It seems reasonable to assume that the Indian art has the potential in terms of both artists and buyers to rival the recent gains made in the Chinese art market and to present itself as a real global participant in the international art market. However, there are some key issues that concern the potential players. These issues have to do with India�s moribund art market infrastructure, which is simply not robust enough to support a major art market. India must develop structures and professionals who can bring order to what in many cases is seeming chaos. Its rich cultural heritage should be come out in form of art works. If this chaos is allowed to continue unchecked, the long term credibility of both India's art and its artists could be irrevocably undermined.

Ashok Nayak

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit New Delhi.

Well behaved women, never make history...Sher Richardson(1956 � 2005)

Sher Richardson(1956 � 2005) : Sher Richardson at a very early age found solitude in a box of Crayola Crayons and sheets of white paper. Born an only child in Dayton Ohio and raised in Columbus and Jackson Ohio she became a professional artist at an early age. Selling art to teachers who needed graphics, portrait work and creative ideas for class room projects and the like. Through middle school she maintained heavy schedule of art classes and drama. All the while looking for any excuse to paint and draw. As she moved into High School she found that her art was a way of self expression and a whole new world opened for her as she found others really valued her work. Participating in local, regional art shows, fairs and always winning first prize at many of the realms of art. From oil painting, acrylics, pencil, charcoal and pastels. She found great pleasure in her works but was amazed that others did too. Sher experimented with all to the point of perfection not only in technique but in a way of self expression to tell her story.

Every piece of art she did told something about her and her thoughts, look deeply into the eyes of many of her pieces and you will feel, you will touch, you will see. Sher quickly found in the shades of Gray and the contrast of Black and White true color. For in these shades the kaleidoscope of color is explosive off the page. As a gypsy artist, she would try anything that involved art. Wall murals, semi truck and trailer designs, t-shirt art, craft projects, designing cards, interior design, magazine advertising design, cartoons, commission work to even painting sulky horse buggy�s and helmets. Sher also went through the trials and tribulations of dealing with galleries to get her work exposed. While the galleries had quite a success she realized very few rewards from this endeavor. While taking time off from her art to raise a family of two children, one boy and one girl, in an undenying and most loving way and to support her husband�s career. She was never far from art. She learned the use of 35mm photography and even participating in "Artists in Schools" programs.

In 1999 Sher made the decision to return back to her love of art and the need she had to express herself. This time it would be different, for the age of computers were here, the internet and other artists to communicate with, share ideas and grow. Explosions happened and I am sure were heard around the world. Sher started pounding out art for one reason� Her love of art to create, inspire and touch other artists.She began to write, paint, draw, read and study everything she could get her hands on. She worked 16 to 20 hours a day until she would crash and start again in 4 to 6 hours. She participated in art groups shared art and words of wisdom with thousands. She even started her own art group. Hand picking each artist from all realms of art. Sculptors, Painters, Poets, Pencil Artists, Photographers, Singers, Song Writers, Web Designers and creative minds. She had a plan. She wanted to build the first real gallery, of on-line artists, where all work could be seen without the collision of gallery business and art. A true artist gallery by artists for artists. Her opening was to be in late fall of 2005 and the Grand Opening in the spring of 2006. Sher Richardson died at the age of 49 in October of 2005, weeks before her opening.It is with dream and spirit I continue for that unfinished goal, for love conquerors all, between now and forever� Under tree� Jeff Richardson (husband of sher)

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Art show, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated

Art Expo India this year has showcased artists like Picasso , Ganit Blechnr, Souza, Raza, Ram Kumar, Krishna Khanna, Nalini Malni, Anjoli Ela Menon

Following close on the heels of the hugely successful India Art Summit held in Delhi, came our very own Art Expo '09 at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai from 25-27 September, an event that brought about mixed emotions to begin with, but as the programme entered it's second day, the murmurs seemed to subside in intensity and at the conclusion, all participants and visitors should have come away a satisfied lot.

An amiable platform to acquaint oneself with the art world, meet new friends, re-establish old ties, it is hoped that the Expo will be broader-based to attract a larger cross section of the art community in the years to come. Surely, the art hub of India can and should match strides with the very best.

Considered among the major events on the country�s art calendar, the second edition of AEI served as the most comprehensive congregation of art collectors, museum directors, critics, art historians, art fund managers and corporate decision makers from across the globe. The fair, a showcase of the very best in Modern & Contemporary art, acted as a flash point, to ignite interest in contemporary Indian art. Stung by global recession and economic crisis, AEI could not have come at a better time, playing the role of a catalyst to revive the art scene.

The central theme was emerging contemporary Indian art and the relationship it shares with the international art scene. There�s no doubt about the fact that India�s art scene has acquired center stage globally. Though Indian art has been in existence for centuries, its impact on the larger international canvas has been rather limited. However, things are now fast changing as witnessed at the expo that was a vibrant reflection of the country�s myriad art trends, encompassing sociopolitical, religious and historical developments.

Some of India�s biggest and best-known galleries featured at the expo. These included Apparao Galleries, Chennai; ICIA, Sakshi, Gallery BMB, Gallery Beyond, The Arts Trust, Art Musings, Priyasri Art Gallery, Pink Ginger Arts (all Mumbai); Latitude 28, Marigold Fine Art, Ashok Art Gallery, Ojas Art, Indian Art Ideas, Gurgaon Art Centre, Dhoomimal Gallery, Bajaj Capital Art House, Progressive Art Gallery, Art Inc., Wonderwall (all New Delhi); Ishka, Cochin; Sara Arakkal, Bangalore; and Kalakriti, Hyderabad. Among the international galleries were Jolrong.com (Singapore/Bangladesh); Galerie ArtSeefeld, Switzerland; Gallery Archana, Malaysia, and 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai.

Renowned curator-collector Mrs. Kay Saatchi inaugurated the event. The keynote address delivered by her dwelt upon the theme of spotting young talent and building up an art collection. In fact, a major highlight of the event was a series of freewheeling conversations with some of the luminaries of the international art world, comprising Mallika Sagar Advani, Anjolie Ela Menon. Dr. Alka Pande, Jitish Kallat, Ranjit Hoskote, Bose Krishnamachari, Shantanu Poredi, Brian Brown, Sharan Apparao, Menaka Kumari-Shah, Abhay Sardesai and Kirsty Ogg. Themes like buying art in recessionary times; �Art in Life: the �Daily Pleasure of Collecting�; �The aesthetics of the erotic�; (X)topia: A Search for Place, A Place for Search�; Everything is Art; and �Indian Art in an International Perspective� were debated, evoking spontaneous responses and a round of rapid fire questions from the engrossed audience.

Mention also must be made of a mini-retrospective at AEI, which was arranged as a small tribute to S. H. Raza and his dedication to art. The legendary artist has remarked: �I have lived fully, and (always) worked with passion and intensity both as a painter and thinker. It needed 30 years for me to master the art of painting before I arrived at a personal style.� The show encapsulated the spirit of his art practice.

Nehru Centre in Mumbai might not be frequented by art connoisseurs but last weekend over 20,000 enthusiasts were visited the venue to view artwork from 30 galleries around the world at Art Expo India. �It�s a forum that allows viewers to look at a collection that is representative,� says Vickram Sethi, chairman of the three-day fair. He adds, �Entering galleries could be intimidating and a forum like this helps initiate new people into the world art.� young participation by Ashok Art Gallery has got a spectacular response on both visitors and sale, it was almost crowded all three days. their collections includes masters like C.S.Rao, seniors like Baladev Moharatha, cutting edge like Pratul Dash and new talent Pradosh Swain, Sajal Patra and Kanta Kishore were hot favorite amongst all.The event spread over three day brought immense sense of satisfaction and achievement to its organizer Vickram Sethi, who has been involved in art for close to two decades and has witnessed the dramatic evolution of Indian art scene. The Arts Trust was set up by him in 1990 with a long-term vision of promoting Indian contemporary art, which was just gaining in prominence at that time. The Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA) was a logical extension of his vision of becoming the best source for quality work by both the distinguished and emerging Indian artists.

Having had his own art gallery, he had valuable first-hand experience of the difference between the art markets in India and outside. He realized that the three challenges to the Indian art market were an unorganized art market, limited collectors and buyers and international exposure, interlinking and affecting each other. He felt the need for a consolidated resource within India for its art scene hence he launched the Art Expo last year.

Harping on the bright future of Indian art and artists as reflected at AEI, Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan of The National, a leading UAE based publication, wrote: �Walking through the expo, it�s hard to imagine that there�s a global economic crisis. If anything, the canvases were larger and more obviously bright than in previous years, the sculptures and installation pieces held pride of place, and the new generation was holding down the fort.�

Echoing the sentiments, Mr. Sethi expressed confidence about the bright prospects and potential of contemporary Indian art. He added, �The Indian market is in a very nascent stage compared to the international art markets. However, it�s only a matter of time before it grows at a rapid pace.� Art Expo India 2009 was a significant step forward in this highly fulfilling, rewarding and enriching journey, searching for new, meaningful expression of creativity.
Art Expo India this year has showcased artists like Picasso , Ganit Blechnr, Souza, Raza, Ram Kumar, Krishna, Khanna, Nalini Malni, Anjoli Ela Menon, Suryakant Lokhande, Jagannath Mohapatra, Akbar Padamsee, Chirag Patel, Jogen Choudhary, Alok Bal, Kanta Kishore Moharana, Sajal Patra, Baladev Moharatha, Pradosh Swain, Somanath Raut, Pratap Jena, Amna Ilyas, Gadadhar Ojha, Manas Ranjan Jena, items, including pieces by artists of the country to see many masterful art works of both Indian Masters and Younger Artists.

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit New Delhi.

�The habitation in nature� solo show by Pradosh Swain

Any work of art for that matter has certain ideas to deliver, but this seems to have engaged the viewer with more than one implication. Initially aimed at presenting the environmental issue, that is one of the phenomena, quite clearly depicted by many artists of the present day. It is uniformly received by the politicians, sociologists, scientists and artists as well. �The habitation in nature� an exhibition showing Pradosh Swain�s recent works at Ashok Art Gallery.

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Concrete Demon illustrates a typical and unusual scene, amazing and interesting too. The manuscript unfolds to release Lord Rama with his attributes, bow and arrow, to kill the concrete mixture that is commonly seen at the construction sites. It has several layers of implication: dwelling between tradition and modern, oppression and liberty, nature and environmental hazard, mobility and stillness and so on. It presents a feeling of awareness and concern.

Rama, the maryada purusha, as he is commonly known and we believe had a genuine understanding of nature as he lived his significant part of life within nature, interacting with various aspects and adopting several laws of natural world. He is seen liberating the self to take on the direct fight once again with the demonic form (concrete mixture = Ravana) to bring back peace to the mankind unaware of the fact that in this corrupt world, what wins is not the environment but the brokers of nature, while the sufferer is entire world.

In the present day, Rama has become the source of inspiration to many; politically, environmentally, culturally, as people have conveniently adopted him. Now he has been reduced to a manuscript as an abode, cultivating the nature within the parameters of palm leaf. A simple narration that recreates the Rama in Odissi Pata painting form and symbolically covering him with the foliage, to relate nature in him; palm leaf as a major and popular medium in Orissan traditional art is placed intelligently to show the manuscript and a horrifying background depicting the uncertainty of human life. The composition is poised with intellectual input and social awareness.

The world is changing and also the attitude of man. Travel is part of human being�s life. With every passing day more and more information regarding the destinations are reaching us motivating us to explore the new area of substance. Reasons of such moves are many, ranging form family holidays to corporate leisure. Many natural sites are revisited and new sites introduced to us. We move from place to place encroaching the nature�s domain and without even being careful. Often we ignorantly spoil the nature and sometimes become more adventurous in misusing the resources. This has resulted in the natural devastation and we can feel the heat of global warming all through the globe. We have started paying the price for someone else�s fault. Towards Wind seems to present before us the nature that is supposed to nurture us, our lives and motivate our minds, inspire us to face new challenges, has now started throwing new challenges to us pointing its protection and expecting a little compassion and love for itself. We have reached a pitiable condition, where no road leads ahead.

A time would arrive when we would need a fan painted with nature (allegorical) in a hill top (station) to satisfy us from heat. The extent, as the artist has pointed, might go up to reaching near to the fan blades to occupy the most of air the fan delivers. The message is clear and loud, save it (nature) to be a part of it or stay alone to die hard.

The cities are now developing fast and at a disagreeable pace. The requirement of man is getting wider day by day. To achieve these desires one makes compromises with the nature, its habitants and the balance. We have significantly converted the animal�s bay purposefully to suit our ideals. So every other day we hear news about tiger creeping in to village and start shouting about the facing new danger. Rationally we have threatened their habitation in nature. The spread of the cities never care about the essential �other�. Fisher in Metro is just about that. In the image showing the kingfisher (namesake) sitting on a basket ball net (replacing the tree branches) and concentrating on a swimming pool (replacing the village pond), which is temporarily set on a spatula (showing its position), while a young woman is diving into the pool. This visual narrates the reality; of how the cities are facing structural conversion everyday, the danger of scarcity facing us today and its horrifying future and similar struggle.

Pradosh Swain has attempted global issues in simplest and readable visual term. What interests me is his concern about nature and its protection in order to avoid the Global Warming. �The message is not new�, as he explains, �and it is not educating too. I just paint to define my understanding of the subject�. He adds, �much has been spoken and delivered visually by the NGOs and similar volunteer organisations to mass through electronic and print media. But artist has his own creative view point that sometimes visualises the imagined future�. Let us not make big promises that are difficult to keep but small acts that are easy to follow in order to upkeep our environment. Is someone practising! Pradosh Swain works and live in Delhi, India.

Indian Art Fair Art Expo India will be in Mumbai from 25th to 27th sept this year

After a very successful run last year, the Art Expo India 2009 is back with a bang! The show this year is bigger than ever with several prominent international personalities, keynote speakers, art consultants and dealers from around the world. Last year�s Exhibition was a major success. Some of the prominent galleries to feature their collections were The Arts Trust and The Osmosis Gallery (Mumbai), Arushi Arts and Ashok Art Gallery (New Delhi), Kalakriti Art Gallery (Hyderabad), Eca Emamichisel Art (Kolkata) and Marvel Art Gallery (Ahmadabad). The Exhibition was attended by luminaries of both the Art and the Corporate world, all united in their common appreciation for Indian Art. Tanya and Arvind Dubash, Pheroja and Jamshyd Godrej, Nancy and Ranjit Hoskote, Niranjan Hiranandani, Kumaramangalam Birla, Yash Birla, Bina and Talat Aziz, and Poonam Dhillon were some of the high profile visitors..

Art Expo India 2009 is a high profile meeting ground for art dealers, galleries, artists and prospective buyers. This exhibition will play a catalytic role in building the art market in India. It is a high end shopping event presenting a wide array of works by famous and upcoming Indian artists. Publishers, dealers, gallery owners and artists will proudly display art in various styles using popular media - from paintings and sculpture to prints and photography.

The exhibition holds the largest gathering of art professionals in India and is the only place where one can meet thousands of new customers on a one-to-one basis. New exhibitors can kick start their businesses and create profitable long-term relationships, making it the meeting ground for art dealers, galleries, artists and prospective buyers.

Visitors will include art collectors, connassiours, architects and interior designers, buyers and corporate decision makers. These important visitors will be specially invited to attend the show. At least 20,000 quality visitors are expected.

On the panel of speakers is the internationally renowned art curator Kay

Saatchi. She began her art career as a Director of the Mayor Rowan Gallery,

London; moving on to be the Contemporary Director of Waddington Galleries,

London. In partnership with her ex-husband, Charles Saatchi, she co-curated

over 34 exhibitions for the Saatchi Collection between l987 and 2001, including

the �Sensation� exhibition show at the Royal Academy, London; Kunsthalle, Berlin and the Brooklyn Museum, New York. In 2003, as Travel Editor of ArtReview, she wrote about emerging art markets in Mumbai, Havana, Morocco, Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa and also covered an Antony Gormley installation in Australia�s outback, and Sydney and Perth. In 2003 she wrote text for the book �British Artists at Work�. She is the Founding Director of the �Artists & Collectors Exchange� a program to promote young artists. In 2007 and 2008 she curated �ANTICIPATION�, an exhibition of the best of emerging artists from London�s art colleges. With years of experience behind her, Mrs. Saatchi�s keynote address on spotting young talent and building up an art collection will be insightful as well as entertaining.

The Art Expo 2009 will be held on September 25th, 26th and 27th this year, at Nehru Center, Worli, Mumbai from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

ArtExpo India 2009 Organisers

Trade & Technology Exposition Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd. was established in 1987 as an exhibition organising company and several events on different themes have been organized by them. Their flagship exhibition is GIFTEX which is now in its 22nd year. With over 70 Trade Shows to their credit Trade & Technology have the experience, the ability and the understanding of the art market as well. The organisation is headed by Mr. Vickram Sethi and has a support team that specialises in setting up trade events.

Mr. Vickram Sethi is a major player in the Indian art market since 1988. Currently the owner of a large gallery, an auction house and an active art portal. He has tremendous domain knowledge of the art market and his experience in the trade show business will ensure success of the ART EXPO INDIA 2009.

For more information please contact:

Aarti Aggarwal at Communiqu� Public Relations

022-6610 0304 / 66518061
The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists.
Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Public Art Project on Global Warming started from bhubaneswar orissa India

Ashok Art Gallery launches its most awaited Public Art Project on Global Warming As said, the major cause of global warming is the emission of green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc into the atmosphere. Gasoline Causing Global WarmingThe major source of carbon dioxide is the power plants. These power plants emit large amounts of carbon dioxide produced from burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation. About twenty percent of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere comes from burning of gasoline in the engines of the vehicles. This is true for most of the developed countries. Buildings, both commercial and residential represent a larger source of global warming pollution than cars and trucks.Building of these structures require a lot of fuel to be burnt which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane is more than 20 times as effectual as CO2 at entrapping heat in the atmosphere. Methane is obtained from resources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel manufacture. When fields are flooded, anaerobic situation build up and the organic matter in the soil decays, releasing methane to the atmosphere. The main sources of nitrous oxide include nylon and nitric acid production, cars with catalytic converters, the use of fertilizers in agriculture and the burning of organic matter. Another cause of global warming is deforestation that is caused by cutting and burning of forests for the purpose of residence and industrialization.
SABDA-RUPA, the seven dimensionsan exhibition of Drawings, Paintings, Digitals and Installations by artists of Ashok Art Gallery, Delhi and seven members of Coffie House Creative Corner, Old Bus Stand, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India on 3rd May 2009 at mostly crowded Old Bus Stand Area, Bhubaneswar curatted by Ashok Nayak and artists participated baladev moharatha(chitradev), kantakishore moharana, manas moharana, somanath raut, smruti sai mishra and six members of CHCC including its secretary Suresh Balabantaray who are professional writers but expressed their feelings in form of paintings drawings and digitals. Coffee House Creative Corner was initiated with the slogan " all creativity rolled in to one ". It is not only the literary creations but the visual creations and the preforming creations has intermingled here to cater the readers and viewers. This time seven members are participating in Ashok Art Gallery, Delhi's Public Art Project, " SABDA-RUPA the seven dimentions, it is an open air public art exhibition on global warming and all the artists are expressing their feeling on its cause, effect and prevention. This exhibition is planning to be held at most crowded old bus stand area of capital city Bhubaneswar, Orissa India. It is a noble effort jointly by Ashok Art Gallery, Delhi and Coffee House Creative Corner, Old Bus Stand, Bhubaneswar, Orissa to aware public and serve the globe, Mr. Balabantaray said.
This Public Art project has some intresting displays like Kanta Kishore's Fibre made cow eating clothes symbolised the unatural behaviour which tends to the cause of global warming , Manas Moharana's reverse umbrella downed by a fress youthful plant which has given message as prevention of global warming causing by deforestations, while Smruti Sai Mishra's installation of tolls used for making buildings with garbage indicates the rapid urbanization which has a major role in global warming and most intrestingly Somanath Raut's a prime head placed on top of gathered chairs shows how we are running behind comfort without thinking about society. This show was innugurated by senior most oriya jurnalist Mr. Dandapani Mishra where senior artist Asim Basu and eminent writer Das Benhur were guest of honour.

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi

Tradition Transition, An International Art Exhibition in India

Orissa is a land of multiple cultures ranging from folk to tradition to music and dance forms and many more. The visual art has been strong at the traditional level while modern contemporary art is striving for a place in cultural space. The fact that Orissa has two recognized art colleges with valuable exponents but due to the misplaced understanding at the local level, the entire environment is affected. The contemporary artists have taken their stand to propagate artistic issues since long, at least for last fifty years. But the expositions are limited to the artists rather than getting closer to the social community. The problem seems to be lying with the communicating values. The state non-cooperation and their limitations to foresee the present and future of the arts have taken disseminating position. Blame game is a strong culture that persists in the sphere by choice or otherwise. While taking stock of the matter, it seems as if one is addressing the politics in art. That is very much by chance, while the fact is no one would like to project a negative perspective of the communication, at least in a time when information technology has taken over the virtual space of interaction and art has become a substantial part of it. Well the artists have been trying to cap issues that are very much relevant and social. The present artists have somehow tried to create a positive feeling by coming together on singular platform to present their art with concern.

Art unfolds and the artists are approaching new avenues to interact. This time its the turn of many young and dynamic artists pulled together to exhibit in the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, Bhubaneswar. The group show was organized by the Ashok Art gallery (an International art gallery) operating from New Delhi promoting the art and artists. This is for the first time the young and budding artists and people of Orissa are privileged to view few international artists like Ruth Olivar Millan (USA) Thea Walstra (The Nederlands) Amna Ilyas (Pakistan). The show was scheduled between 27th February and 5th March 2009. Many artists those including the Orissan Master Chandrasekhar Rao, Baladev Moharatha, young reputed artists like Jagannath Panda Pratul Dash, Ramakanta Samantaray, Adwaita Gadanayak, Sitikanta Pattnaik, Pradosh Swain, Subash Pujhari, Manas Ranjan Jena and several others. Among the national artists are Dharmendra Rathore, Hukumlal Verma, Ramesh Tardal , Vinod Manwani, Indu Tripathy, Sanjoy Bose those have placed themselves in the global platform also joined the show.

For last couple of months the art scene of Orissa seems to have upgraded its activities to keep pace with the time and need. City�s art calendar has seldom been so active.Several exhibitions, Film Shows, camps and symposiums have been organised up to update the young artists with the latest global developments. This exposition truly reflected the global ideology while representing the local. This can mean one thing. Bhubaneswar is fast growing as a metropolis, said Minati Singh of TOI. The signs are quite clear and the trend of the art market has been growing over the past few year. A good number of artists and art aficionado have got into a habit of visiting art galleries have also come up to hold exhibitions in the city with an aim to popularizes love for art and create an art market. The rationale behind these exhibitions is to bring the potential of these local artists under one roof, alongside some of the noted artists of the state. This exhibition will help market the works of these small-time artists. Speaking about the camps, Ashok Nayak from New-Delhi based Ashok Art Gallery says, �earlier art camps were organized only by Lalit Kala Akademi. Since the AKademi has its own limitation, other organisations have started top take initiative to place the artists under one roof through camps and other similar events�.

The gallery organized this international exhibition of more than a hundred art works by eighty four artists comprising of paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and installations here on Friday at the Lalit Kala Akademi. �There is demand for genuine artworks and the buyers are choosing to invest in art. They are searching for fresh venues to explore the right art and therefore, we must organize regular art shows, camps and exhibitions so that chances are created for the better selection,� Mr. Nayak said. In this exhibition, he added, �we brought artists both renowned and aspiring, from all over the world so that the creative gap is lessened. Most of these have dealt with issues of major political and social concerns. Adding to the flavor of the exhibition the corporate houses have offered their patronage to the event. �Patronage is essential to the growth of art. Now the time has come when the government should invest in the growth of public art and earmark some fund for it. A growing city like Bhubaneswar has all essential facilities for it. The corporate houses and other private sector should join hand to make the difference feel to the citizens of this city�, said Ashok. Kanta Kishore Moharana, another artist said,� I am not worried about selling my sculptures. I want people to just come and have look at my creations so that they get a feel of them. The new trend has come up these days to combine sculptures with other from of art in a single item. So I tried to mingle them with my sculpture.�

�Art has never known boundaries. It just captures viewer�s attention through colours, images and expressions, each work saying something different and important. The mystique nature of contemporary art comes alive in the work of Nederland based artist Thea Walstra�s brush work on canvas showing a looped bright light in vermillion shades as in Sajal Patra�s acrylic work where a woman stands in front of a locked door. Pratul Dash�s water cololur on paper brilliantly brings out a scene of crowd while Tapan Dash has used dry pastel on paper to produce a thought provoking face. Sculptor Biswaranjan Kar has shown his efficiency in painting, again based on his continuing work on Olive Ridley turtles�, a city based Art Critic Namita Panda said.

Exhibited at the international art exhibition of painting, drawing, sculptures, photographs, and installations these paintings stood alongside almost a hundred more of similar brilliance artists like Amna Ilyas from Pakistan, Ruth Olivar Millan, Adwaita Gadnayak, Gauranga Bariki, Sitikanta Patnaik, Jagannath Panda, Pratul Dash, Tapan Dash, Gadadhar Ojha and growing ones like Pratap Jena, Ajay Mohanty, Somanath Raut, Manas Moharana, Subash Pujhari and Kanta Kishore Moharana.

The art tradition in Orissa is so very strong that artists adapt the visual elements with subtle changes to suit contemporary makeover. In the case of Ajay Mohanty, one could easily consider these remains. They have emerged with subtle aesthetic layers with focus on the compositional patter. Stylistically different though but the gestures and colour have strong reference points. The only deviation perhaps is that of the space treatment and that make it visual strong and appealing. The present form of Anup has travelled long beyond Bihania and the transformation has remarkably shown up. The synchronization of the butterfly, the mystery and the illusory impact of the veil underlines the invisible face with intelligent symbolic. Gadadhar Ojha's Sans Titre holds the clue to the textural adventure and the space arrangement. The marble images refer to the Indian concept of bindu and vistara, a concept that deal with the centre and the periphery. The coordination that necessarily speak of the relationship in interface: the globe and the India, the local and global and its likes. Hukumlal Verma's image is a simple play of colours and its definition in overlapping pattern.

Indian contemporary art has now started evolving new paradigms and several artists have been relocating themselves in the present context. The boundaries of the mediums are intelligently merged and meaningfully redefined to engage in artistic creativity. Emotion and expression are charged with intellectual input into and outside the civilisational aspect. Jagannath Panda is such an artist who has overcome the restraint of time and space with the medium. Environment and human relationship gets attached to the expressive medium. The overlapping planes represent timeless narrative with the man calculating the journey through its triangular device locating its existence. It seems to be an endless calculation in the background. The triangle shows the past , present and future coinciding to the three angles and the human race to achieve all in one go, finally failing to synchronise the ends. The compartment below derives the sky and its relational value to the upper segment. Pratul has sensitively arranged a human-scape with photo-dynamic. The composition seem to have a sense of social congregation. He might be nostalgic with the terror strikes in Mumbai and initiates the unique oneness of the subcontinent. Tapan continues to draw with his mask(y) faces with layers of personality hidden within one self. This reality has surfaced with the racial competition to win over the world, every one individual trying to over do the other and justify the presence. This could also hint at a psychological value of human existence. Pradosh Swain has semantically drawn the earth through the bird image; upper part of the image beautifully interprets the sky with the runway at the background merging to the vistas, while the lower part reflects the dry land beginning to beg its fate looking at the past (which might have just saved its life). It is a sensitively created piece referring to the misbalance caused by human to nature.

Ruth is different and direct, creating a equilibrium between form and affection, of desire and achievement. The simple expression of the child and the mother is derived from life and diligently put forward on the canvas. And Shekh Hifzul is narrative in his form and composition, decorating the image with subtle rendering of designs and trying out mythical representation with a wing (?). In this couple, male has the wings of desire and freedom remaining at the upper band while the female share its presence delicately supporting the figure. Thea Walstra speaks about the laser interactive rays those radiate to unite and spread around like dvani (sound), glowing into the cosmic sphere merging into the air and bringing back the sound to the ears, with the same transparency and layers.

There has been huge footfall and the viewership has widened to family people and youngsters too now. In fact many of the displayed works were bought as well. The weeklong exhibition that concluded on 5th March 2009 also included a work by the immortal art guru Chandrasekhar Rao and present master Baladev Moharatha. Though too huge for a viewer to absorb all the creations properly, almost every form of the art was present at Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre. One could easily find his interest as a number of subjects like environment, nature, society, beauty, spirituality, culture, and many more were included in various media like metal, wood, marble, fibre, rock in sculpture and pastel, acrylic, mixed media, water colour, graphic in paintings. This exhibition is a venture projecting the insider and the outsider to and from the subcontinent and more so in Orissa it would definitely make sense as they all bring different vocabulary on one platform. Ashok Art Gallery has done this in Delhi before and now presenting this to the Orissa audience, and hopefully they will cater to the creative desire of the young state art forum. What we need is reasonable spirit and appreciation of the art situation today, because we live in the present and need to keep pace with time. More such exhibitions will expose us to the global happenings. This first exhibition of its kind will definitely work as a catalyst for future.

Dr Pradosh Mishra (Art Historian)
Associate Proffesor, BHU

International Art Exhibition in India, Drawings Paintings Sculptures Prints Photographs and Installations

Ashok Art Gallery would love to invite you for our coming exhibition in Temple City Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India starting from 27th February, 2009 to 5th March 2009 timings11:00am to 8:00 pm at Lalitkala regional centre gallery, III/4, Kharavela Nagar, Unit-3 Bhubaneswar.

This exhibition is an international art exhibition including art works from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India. Exhibition will show more than 100 works of 84 artists.

All Participating Artists are:

Adwaita Gadanayak,Ajay Mohanty,Amna Ilyas(Pakistan),Anjan Sahoo,Anup Kumar Chand,Anusuya Chakroborty,Aparnna Ray,Arun Kumar Jena,Ashok Nayak,Baladev Moharatha,Biswaranjan Kar,Chatrapati Biswal,Dayal Saw,Debashish Chakroborty,Debasish Mishra,Deepak Harichandan,Dharmendra Rathore,Dillip Kumar Tripathy,Dr. Sanjay Acharya,Gadadhar Ojha,Gajendra Padhi,Gajendra Prasad Sahu,Gautam Sahu,Gopal Samantray,Helen Brahma,Hukumlal Verma,Indu Tripathy,Jagannath Panda,Jagatret Dash,Jayant Das,Jiten Sahu,Kalyan Barik,Kanta Kishore Moharana,Kashinath Jena,Kirti Kishore Moharana,Lalata Kishore Pradhan,M. Sovan Kumar,Manas Maharana,Manas Pattnaik,Manoj Mohanty,Meenaketan Pattnaik,Niroj Satpathy,Nityanada Ojha,P. Bujinga Rao,Prabir Dalai,Pradeep Nayak,Pradosh Swain,Prajesh Mohapatra,Pratap Jena,Pratul Dash,Pritam Priyalochan,Purna Behera,Rakesh Ratan Nath,Ramahari Jena,Ramakanta Samantray,Ramesh Terdal,Ranjan Moharana,Ruth Oliver Millan(USA),Sajal Patra,Sangita Mohapatra,Sangram Moharana,Sanjay Bose,Sanjay Pattnaik,Santosh Routray,Satyabhama Majhi,Satyabrata Das,Satyajit Das,Seikh Hifzul,Siba Prasad Patri,Siba Prasad Sahu,Sitikant Pattnaik(tutu),Smrutisai Mishra,Somanath rout,Subra Chand,Subrat Mullick,Sujit Mallik,Sunil Bindhani,Tapan Dash,Tapan Moharana,Thea Walstra(Nederlands),Trakant Parida,Veejayant Dash,Vinod Manwani

Special Preview will be on 26th at Orissa Modern Art Gallery from 2 PM to 8 PM

The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Oriya Film Legend,Painter, actor, producer, writer, educationist Sarat Pujari on 27th February, 2009 at 6.30pm.

It would be an honour to have you on this occasion as your august presence will be a token of encouragement and love for me and will immensely enhance the dignity of the function. Look forward to receive you

Ashok Art Gallery

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Art News and Exhibition Reviews : Ashok Art Gallery, The Tree Family, an Orissan traditional forms and conventional drawing by Gajendra Prasad Sahu.

Gajaendra Prasad Sahu's Solo show has innaugurated by Dr. Subash Ch Pani at IHC Senior Artists like Kashinath Jena shared his valuable thoughts with all young artists present at opening, This exhibition will continue at Ashok Art Gallery
An Exhibition of recent drawing and painting was organised at Open Palm Court Gallery by Ashok Art Gallery from 14th -16th feb 2009, gathered by many artists and art lovers, Gajendra Prasad's work gets heavily appriceations from both side.

Orissa has been a store house of ideas and images consistently transformed through the history. Artists of Orissa, while keeping the value of its tradition, have tried to keep pace with the need of time. Thus it is obvious to find a blend in the art forms of today. Several contemporary artists from Orissa are practising in coordination with the creativity and tradition, Gajendra Sahu is one of them.

Gajendra Sahu is essentially a graphic artist who is at present engaged in painting, thereby breaking the norms of the painter-printer convention. I still remember few drawings by him in the same pattern, and that reminds me of his association with these forms which are designated and stylistic. It is necessary to highlight the stylistic advantages that are visible in his painting for example the graded yet bold lines, the formal precision and the colour application which has a greater relevance to printing effect.

The compositions are interesting not because of their presence but for their appearance, with a contrast compartmental background seemingly synchronising the visual feast. The second factor it emphasises is the man-nature relationship. The relationship might just be as natural as normally seen in an Orissan environment. The nature is more decorative and conceivably symbolic. The situation has ceased to accommodate the viewer for interaction or is it initiating a rendezvous! The figures seem to reflect an amalgamation of the Orissan traditional forms and conventional drawing.

The subject treatment is much nearer to the mood of the artist. The human faces are nurtured in different condition; pale, melancholic sometimes or may be lost in the urban chaos, or searching a niche for their survival. Being within the nature, they are in a state of discomfort. This brings us to one larger understanding of within and without, containment and exploring, fullness and empty etc. These are subjective view points, entailing the third person to engage in evaluation. This is the state of Orissan art in Orissa, having enormous heritage and cultural potency to encourage any creative discipline, but looking forward to a strange acceptance, forgetting that purity has no language, but expression.

Dr. Pradosh Kumar Mishra
Associate Professor
Department of History of Art
Banaras Hindu University

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Exhibition Of Drawing and Painting organised by Ashok Art Gallery Delhi India

Ashok Art Gallery Presents
The Tree & Family
An Exhibition of recent Paintings and Drawings,
a Solo Show of renound Artist Gajendra Prasad Sahu
from 14th to 16th Feb, 2009
at Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,New Delhi, India

Dr Subash Pani, Secretary, Planning Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi has kindly consented to Innaugurate the Exhibition.
Sri Injeti. Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India, New Delhi will be the Chief Guest.

You all are cordially invited
Exibition will open on 14th Feb 6 PM and it will be on view till 16th Feb
10 AM to 8PM Daily.

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world�s most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.