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Review

Experiencing Gulammohammed Sheikh’s “Kaarwaan and Other Works”

The boat in the painting, Kaarwaan, is not merely a vessel in which people are transported to a destination but it is a self-contained watercraft that also accommodates a large land mass of breathtaking landscapes with buildings, as if luring the people crowded together at the back of the boat to choose the boat itself as their final destination, in a way trapping their souls on the earthly plane of history – history written, and created by humans – although there are the angels and farishtas hovering just above the surface of the water and around the boat ready and waiting to take the souls on their onward journey to liberation.

Blog

Third Week in Switzerland

By Isha Yadav

Who is the person that lives in my body now? I observe her from the balcony in my hair. What is she upto? How is she responding to a new kind of solitude? How is she responding to the time and space afforded to her?

Interview

Of Modernism and Rebellion Arts: Gobardhan Ash Retrospective (1929 – 1969)

By Dilpreet Bhullar

The latest exhibition Gobardhan Ash Retrospective (1929 – 1969) presented by Prinseps at Kolkata Centre for Creativity is a testament to the artist’s unwavering commitment to experimentation and innovation. While some artists may find comfort in sticking to a particular style or technique, Ash thrives on pushing the boundaries of his craft. His willingness to explore new avenues and challenge conventional norms has earned him both critical acclaim and adoration from art enthusiasts around the world. One of the most intriguing aspects of Ash's work is his ability to imbue his creations with layers of meaning and symbolism. Every brushstroke, every hue, every composition tells a story – a story that is open to interpretation yet deeply personal to the artist. As viewers navigate through the labyrinth of his imagination, they are invited to uncover the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface, to embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. As visitors step into the gallery space, a sensory feast – a symphony of colours, textures, and forms that beckon them to explore further, greets them. From the moment they set foot inside, they are transported to a realm where reality and imagination converge, where boundaries blur and possibilities abound. In an interview with Dilpreet Bhullar, the curators of the exhibition Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil and Harsharan Bakshi unfold the making of Gobardhan Ash Retrospective (1929 – 1969).

Essay

What ‘South Asia’ signifies today

By Inakshi Sobti

So. what is South Asia today? With 22% of the world population spread over 7% of the world’s land mass, the region boasts a mix of contradictions, with an average per capita annual income of merely two thousand dollars, a fifth of neighbouring East Asia, and one-twentieth the level of high-income countries. Juxtaposed against the sluggish growth rates and, in some cases, de-growth in Europe and large parts of the West, South Asia is expected to grow faster at just under 6 percent.

Essay

Art and Power: Networks of Patronage in Contemporary South Asia

By Rachna Shetty

From ancient Buddhist monuments to medieval royal temples and the syncretic visual world of the Mughal court, art in the Indian subcontinent reveals a deep history of patronage. As a system of exchange, patronage also reveals underlying expressions. The inscriptions of donors at Buddhist sites at Sanchi, Amaravati, Karle, Nashik and Kuda, among others, reveal a diverse array of faithful patrons—gardeners, fisherfolk, merchants, traders, monks and nuns—brought together by a shared religion. [1] On the other hand, the idealised portraiture of Chola royals in southern India—which incorporate religious symbolism—and Jehangir’s allegorical portraits, project real and desired imperial power. [2] It was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that patronage, as we know it today, began taking shape in the Indian subcontinent, even as artists moved towards ‘modern’ forms of art. These changes, too, were underpinned by political intentions, this time by the British.

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