Hidden gems for masters, Art of India paints the complete picture | India News – Times of India

The story of Indian art does not begin and end with the masters. In addition to the Husains, the Razas, and the Souzas, the arc was formed by a constellation of self-taught artists and art school graduates who chiselled conventions far beyond the elusive orbit of galleries. The late printmaker Haren Das, for example, not only offered a rare glimpse into rural, undivided Bengal with his wood engravings, but also laid the foundation for graphic art education at a time when oil paintings dominated the Indian art market. In search of the many future Haren Das’ who now toil passionately in the hinterland, art historian Alka Pande recently combed the length and breadth of the country. The ‘Hidden Gems’ that emerged from her search will soon be bathed in the tungsten spotlight at the upcoming edition of TOI’s Art of India (AOI) festival opening at Delhi’s Visual Arts Gallery (January 12-19) and at NCPA, Mumbai (February 2012). 16-23).
Unlike trade-driven art fairs, the AOI exhibition – an annual showcase of India’s artistically diverse heritage – aims to tell rather than sell. “The Art of India is more about educating the general public about the history of Indian art and the cultural signifiers of Indian artistic practice,” said Pande, curator of the festival that will showcase the country’s rich diversity through a range of works of art covering the beautiful kalamkari of Niranjan. paintings to Jogen Chowdhury’s evocative charcoal on paper. The bouquet of themes includes social realism, nationalism, literature and philosophy.
Divided into four broad themes – the Masters, Hidden Gemstones, Folk and Tribal Art and Inclusivity – the exhibition will also see canvases by celebrated masters such as Jamini Roy and Akbar Padamsee, and emerging artists. “The artists who work outside the gallery circuit are talking about the changing face of India,” says Pande, referring to works such as the faceless idols and people in the monochrome drawings and paintings of fashion design graduate Nandan Purkayastha and the vibrant women who animating the canvases of Thota Vaikuntam. “These artists are important culture bearers and carry enormous knowledge systems and Indian traditions through their works of art,” Pande adds.
In addition to the vast influence of Indian folk and tribal art, there are tech-driven works from the LGBTQIA+ community as part of the thriving ecosystem of queer art, alongside pieces that address issues such as climate change and neurodiversity.