At the ongoing fair, interactive art and on-site paintings are giving visitors an insight into an artist’s world, finds out Karan Bhardwaj
On a bright day, as you walk on the white pebbles laid down right at the entry of majestic halls erected for India Art Fair at NSIC Grounds, you feel like entering into an ocean which is only filled with pearls and gems.
The venue, which hosts IAF every year, is no less than a wonderland which until Sunday will be showcasing some rare and precious artworks of the masters, emerging artists and fresh talent of India and abroad. Over 80 exhibiting galleries in a total of 90 booths have put a mesmerising gamut of visual affairs, which makes you fall in love with art even if you don’t understand it. Silently placed in a corner of Sakshi Gallery’s area, an unusual telephone captures our attention. It’s an installation by artist-actor lekha Washington that has a shell as its receiver. An interactive piece of art, the shell produces a noise, as if emanating from ocean, which connects you to your inner voice. As you get lost in that noise, a sudden whispering voice tells you about your fortunes. Titled The Calling, the installation aims to offer enlightenment.
“look at people around you. They are so overboard and full of noise. In today’s world, where people want to go full throttle about everything, I wanted to sit back, relax and connect to myself. This is the need of the hour and people here can do that through this installation,” says the artist. We understand the relevance of inner peace in lekha’s personal space as she comes from showbiz and glamorous world. Her other installation talks about present turmoil where nature is at the receiving end. On a white canvas, she has carved out jungles, warplanes, humanity and Jesus. “We are in a chaotic situation. The white background is just a reminder of peace that we all need,” she tells us with a smile adding that she will also showcase her stylish chairs at a forthcoming design fair in the Capital.
At a time when India seems to be under the spell of charm created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is not surprising to find Modi at the fair as well. Artist Viveek Sharma’s oil on canvas work Sons Of The Same Soil shows Modi being blessed by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi would have been proud of Modi had he been alive today, claims the artist. The chess board in the bottom of the work reflects how Modi won the power game despite unparallel odds. “I have been following Modi for over a decade. It’s fascinating to see his patience when his detractors left no stone unturned to destroy him,” Viveek says.
The artist who has been an avid traveller and follower of Dutch masters, embodies nationalism, religion and spirituality in his work.
The book art is equally impressive at Gallery Ragini’s stall, decoding how Tansen would have reigned in the Mughal era. The work projects Tansen as an Alchemist who knew the technique of cloud seeding and was a wizard. The installation gives clues about various other secrets closely guarded by the Mughals combined by the mysteries of the universe and supernatural. “In Mughal times, books were minimal and pictorial. In this book installation, there are 12 artworks in six leaves describing how Tansen would have performed different ragas, won a million hearts and brought showers. Scientists have observed how resonance on earth could affect rains. So it’s not just a myth,” says Nidhi Jain, director of the gallery.
Another artwork shows a black Taj Mahal, which is an enticing marriage of contemporary and medieval aesthetics. Clouding over black Taj Mahal, there are cranes signifying the advancement while there are medieval Russian curtains and balloons in and around the site. The art fair has also some on-site experiences with artists painting live, giving visitors an insight into the processes contemporary artists employ in their work.
Well-known artists Chitra Ganesh and Dhruvi Acharya have collaborated for the first time to do a public art. “It’s an experience for us. We have been used to studio art but it’s fun. I only wish we had more time for making art since people distract sometimes,” says Chitra as she completes a woman figure on the wall. It’s a big artwork which will take four days. There are human portraits and figures showing biological changes of a body as well as the philosophy of life and death. The colour compositions have been carefully chosen with vibrant and playful look given to young women.
“Science makes us believe that we can control everything but a lot changes without intimation and remains like a mystery. The body is no less than a wonder. Who knows about life after death,” says Dhruvi, who moved to India in 2003. The artists politely responds to several photo requests by the audience who seem to have a gala time especially when the number of footfalls have decreased at the fair.