Solo 2014

“Emerging Lines” is a new series on urban development which is seen as a major segment of the growth in humanity.        

In what would appear as an obsession to document the growing need of urbanization, through my interpretation in the genre of abstract impressionism, efforts are made to take a positive approach despite agonizing at times over humanity’s pace and urge to grow.  

   

Using mostly mixed medium as pigments, hand made paper made by myself along with other natural and man made products to show textural effect, I have tried to express various aspects and stages of growth.

My observations during a  recent journey through Italy making note of the aesthetics of humanity merging with at times what I believe is uncompromising terrain, was truly inspiring.  I marveled at the way architectural feats made inroads so as to be visually appealing while not overpowering nature’s bounty.

Using colors to portray the seasons interspersed with geometrical forms, suggests the viewer to go through a journey and make their own impression of the representational icons used to convey the message.

The pace of a changing topography can leave mixed perceptions and feelings. All is not lost in my assumption as concerted efforts are emerging.  There appears to be an awareness to make structures juxtaposing with an existing natural setting which is settling and visually appealing. 

Having lived all my life in metros, the influence is paramount to my perception of the need to excel for many; as I do believe, that growth is inevitable be it in a rural or urban scenario. This series expresses the ‘agony and ecstasy’ of growth in a city which is an integral part of our existence.

The above article is my  Artist's Note of  the  Solo "Emerging Lines" held at Mahua Art Gallery, Bengaluru.

Musings of an Artist

Painting in the balcony of my flat for many years was very nerve wracking, having to juggle with brushes and paints in a constrained space. I yearned for a tranquil environment and I started dreaming of a studio space with trees and squirrels scuttling around. My wanderings in this colony known for old bungalows, led me to this haven that turned out to be a dream setting for creativity. The present ‘Lady of the Manor’ very kindly offered a room in her courtyard full of fruit trees and beautiful foliage. Dappled sunlight made me dizzy with happiness and I sighed with relief. 
The room which I use as my studio was the residence of the carriage driver when Richard Cookson, the original owner resided a century ago                                      .

This heritage Gothic style home is silent testimony of a bygone era and I paint sometimes feeling ‘a hand’ that guides me to create figures in my abstract world. Visitors claim they discover figures emerging within abstract shapes and it is a journey of discovery for them !

The surrounding space in the compound creates many possibilities for sketching pathways or freezing the ever changing growth in nature with charcoal sticks or watercolors coined as “happy paintings” bringing release from the intensity of abstract art. There are times I don’t paint but stare blankly into space just mesmerized by natures’ glory till a loud thud heralding the dislodging of a large avocado from its branch brings me to reality. Many artists have visited me here and linger on soaking in the ambience while being lulled by the beauty in this old world scenario. Many have declared their envy despite having large studio spaces!

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

Much has been written about fitness, diets and exercise with the good intention that people will take such suggestions well. I notice that people suddenly realize they have increased in size and  feel the need to do something only when aches and pains start. Unless the urge to loose weight is a self realization, the effort to start itself is a huge weight .... in the mind! 

I realized that when I start the day exercising, I'm ready to face the day with high energy and a smile. While on vacation this routine goes for a toss and the holiday mood sets in with savouring good local cuisine and adding a few pounds ending in lethargy. While thinking on how to deal with this and keep a check on the diet wherever I go, I came across an app which is 
The Careot App that makes it easy and fun to record and analyze the calories and nutritional values consumed from all your meals, snacks and drinks, even when you have a busy schedule. Here are some cool features you should try out:

·             Take a picture of your meal so you can enter the food journal entries at a later time or share with your friends on Facebook.

·             Use the social media section of Careot to motivate your friends, stick with your diet plans, and learn new recipes or to celebrate your accomplishments.

·             Use the GPS Locator to save the location of a healthy meal you ate at your favorite restaurant so you can get a reminder to eat the same meal when you revisit that same location.

·             Use the graphs on the dashboard to easily track the nutrient values you have selected to review and analyze over a time period.

A holistic approach is what is required with a wellness program that includes monthly visits to the spa, monitoring the diet before every meal, an exercise regime which could include cardio or anabolic routine with weights for bone density that's good for women along with de-stressing with Yoga or meditation. I firmly believe in the adage "Health is wealth" and live a life to prove that.

Art Awareness Shows

In and Around Heritage

 I held my solo titled ‘In and Around Heritage’ displaying works in my studio compound (The Heritage Art Quarter). The backdrop was the main house which is a heritage home that once belonged to Richard Cookson, a Civil Servant of the erstwhile British Raj. 

The Annual Shows held for the past few years at The Heritage Art Quarter is focused at creating art awareness among people who love art and yet find an art gallery an ‘intimidating space’. Many feel that they are not ‘knowledgeable enough’ to enter a gallery.

The two day show where I spent 8 hours a day painting, chatting with visitors and hearing their observations and comments. Visitors got to read clipped articles written by the artist, pertaining to the title of the show.

Teenagers and toddlers came and enjoyed seeing art work displayed like in a “Habba”(Kannada word for fair).

The concept of an ‘art walk’ was established by writings about the rooms and spaces which had a story to tell. The old cook's room is now a small gallery space to display my works covering all walls from top to bottom. Appreciating my efforts visitors invite their friends too.      

Every show has a theme and this time I worked on history using mixed media works with art inspired by the history of the place and other historical places as seen through my perception..

The Reading Room of GOL (the main house is nicknamed Grand Old Lady) was used to display charcoal sketches inspired by the heritage home

The ambience encouraged visitors to relax after soaking in all the art. The shows have become popular and people look forward to this event.

AIM FOR SEWA

A dear friend wanted me to do a workshop for underprivileged children along with a few other Bangalore based artists. The aim was to create work so as to fund themselves by transferring the creations onto useful gift articles. Not knowing what to expect, I went along as this was my first experience to help children in their creative talent. This was a whole day workshop organized by an NGO named Aim for Seva in Bangalore.

On reaching the school funded by the NGO, bright, shining and eager faces cheerfully greeted us expectantly to start the art workshop at the Chatralaya (school). My intent was to make the session full of fun and to learn how to help each other through the medium of art. I assessed their abilities after seeing each one’s work separately and thought it would be good to work together. The group of excited little girls, were encouraged to work on one surface. Before starting on the surface, I introduced new techniques to create the fun element and the ensuing whoops of joy, was euphoric indeed. Girls who couldn’t draw very well were made to color the drawings done by another. This way each girl felt good and the feeling of inadequacy or competition was not there.

One painting was created with surface full of flowers titled “Hoova” (Kannada for flowers} expresses joy of life. The other painting again on one surface for five girls, using hand imprints as technique to depict branches and leaves of a tree was to symbolize “Aim for Seva”.

I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the children and it was a humbling experience at the same time. 

ESP

I was on Cloud 9 as my solo art show by Time & Space Gallery was on and all seemed well. Being a relative ‘new comer’ in the art fraternity then, I was very excited. So on one of the mornings while leaving my home for the gallery, instead of the heady feeling I should have experienced, I was feeling very low with a sinking feeling, making my heart heavy. There was such a strong feeling of melancholia for no apparent reason. My mother would always look out for ‘signs’ which give an indication of how things would turn out on stepping out of the home. This must have been at the back of my mind, for I got irritated on seeing a lady coming towards me carrying a child and ahead I sighted another lady holding a broom aloft. Any superstitious person would have turned around and headed home as they are considered bad signs. I continued towards the gallery to interact with visitors coming for the artshow.

I came to know much later that at that particular time was when my father had passed away suddenly in Kerala.

During that time my brother in the US too felt ‘something’ while driving on the highway. Strangely a car swerved and came from another lane to drive right in front. My brother’s eyes were drawn towards the number plate, reading PGG 23 (our father’s initials and year of birth!). Is this a sixth sense or was it an ESP (extra sensory perception) experience? I get goose bumps every time I relive that day.

Funny Side

Being a professional artist, I am made to answer some usual queries from those viewing my paintings. Questions like "how long did it take to finish this work?" or "what thoughts were going through your head while painting this?" and so on. Well the most debatable one was "have you thought of including your sense of humour in your paintings?" Now that left me flummoxed!

I usually advice people to look at the funny side of a situation (easier said than done!) when in doubt. In the heat of the moment, that side is the most difficult to think of ! Well later on while chatting with a friend, one can take a step back from that situation while narrating it and bring the humour in. This has worked for some and later on the friend has thanked me for that.

To be or not to be funny.....that is the question!