By Neeta Omprakash

SACHIN AND Ramesh, two individuals working in different styles and on different themes belonging to two neighbouring states — Goa and Maharashtra, have come together to exhibit their talent in drawing, printmaking and painting at Gallery Ruchika, opening today, May 8.

GALLERY Geetanjali, in an attempt to encourage young talent by giving them exposure in Goa, held an exhibition of paintings from April 3 to 9 by eight artists from Maharastra, who are part of the Himalaya Art Trust. The only common feature among the artists from Nasik, Pune and Mumbai was their qualification — a Government Diploma in Art (GD Art).

By Neeta Omprakash

HUMOUR adds spice to life and in this age of fast food, spices have special significance in the culinary industry. Everybody can laugh but only few can make others laugh, cartoon is a strange combination of seriousness and humour. An essential quality expected in a cartoonist apart from the sense of humour is the intelligence to analyse a situation objectively and generalise it to be presented in an art form. He needs to be an alert critic. Many cartoonists misunderstand the profession; they feel it is to create humour by distorting figures and add lengthy lines which ultimately make no sense.

A LEAP from reality to fantasy is an inevitable activity of the human mind. For hours together, the mind can indulge in creating and enjoying extravagant, grotesque and capricious imagery. The imagery created by each mind may differ from the others, yet there is a basic structure in the creation of such fantastic creatures dwelling in mystic landscapes.

BY NEETA OMPRAKASH

GALLERY TAMARIND is having is having it’s fourth consecutive exhibition of this season with the opening of Nirupa Naik’s solo show, which is on view till January 22. Nirupa entered the art field as a young, shy village girl who would listen, with great admiration and awe, to the thoughts on art given by teacher Laxman Pai who inspired her to pursue an artistic career. She has followed the ideals of Laxman Pai and dedicated herself to develop her inner talents.

BY NEETA OMPRAKASH

VASUDEV SHETYE and Praveen Naik, two young budding artists, held an exhibition ‘Harmonies and dimensions’ of their recent paintings at Kala Academy last week. Both are graduates from the Goa College of Art and presently teaching art in schools.

NAVINA Sundaram, Amrita Sher-Gill’s niece who was a television journalist in Hamburg (now retired) and an independent filmmaker, was assigned to make a film on her aunt Amrita by the ‘HAUS DER KUNST’ Museum in Munich, Germany. This film was to be shown at the time of an exhibition of Amrita Sher-gill’s paintings, the only one of its kind outside India in the year 2006. This film titled “Amrita Sher-gill - a family album” was shown in Goa at Literati on December 11. Navina has unfolded the personality of the artist through her letters in reference with the paintings.

IT IS wonderful to meet a person who is both a writer and a painter harmoniously combined in one. Rare are those who are profound yet simple in their demeanour. Anandmohan Naik is one such artist who is the recipient of several national awards, including the prestigious Kalidas Sanman, without being affected by the glory of such ‘feathers’. Only a true artist can remain untouched by the prestige associated with awards and the popularity it can bring.

HE recently opened Tamarind Art Gallery at Baga held a solo show of Querozito De Souza’s drawings and paintings titled ‘Memoirs - sensual and sublime’. Tamarind Art Gallery owner Kamala Monteiro, an art connoisseur, dreamt of opening a gallery for the past few years. She aspires to conduct serious art activity in her space.

IT IS not uncommon for Hindus to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesh at the beginning of a venture - be it a business, answering an exam… or even writing one’s first article. Ganesh is known to Hindus as the god of knowledge as well as the remover of obstacles and is considered the most important god among all. Such is the popularity of the god with the elephant’s trunk that He also acts as a muse for artists.