Artist Profile: Anil Kumar Simhadri

This week we profile Anil Kumar Simhadri, an artist based in Vadodara. Anil studied Printmaking (MFA) in 2011 from Khairagarh and BFA in 2009 from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He is a recipient of HRD national scholarship for young artists, New Delhi and Arnawaz Vasudev scholarship, Bangalore.

Anil explains, "The lingering thought of not having freedom to choose what I want and what I do not want seems to be haunting me. In fact this is what makes me create images, live and move on. I am trying to depict life’s conflicts and struggles on people’s faces. Perhaps it is the lack of freedom or not having enough courage to face the reality around me that becomes a source and force to construct my images."

You can view more of his works here

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the UPDATED guidelines listed under Submit.

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Artist Profile: Devajyoti Ray

This week we profile artist Devajyoti Ray, whose cinematic works hold you captive and mesmerized as you struggle to keep a finger on the exact moment of life that a particular work seems to depict. Moment is what his works are all about. A particular glance, a sudden smile, a pondering look - infinitesimal moments that make our life so meaningful. A moment that is capable of telling an entire story.

 

Born in 1974, Ray has been associated with the Kolkata art scene for long time, working closely with and following some of the doyens of Bengal art, though never enrolling for academic degrees. A keen sense of learning had given him a different kind of edge as he freely mixed ideas from various fields into art, something that was not very popular then, but today has many followers. In 2004, Ray came up with a new style which immediately attracted the attention of the academic world – pseudorealism. He has since then exhibited in many countries and has been represented in several galleries, fairs and state museums.

Pseudorealism is a popular genre of art today and Ray’s works in this particular style is well known. But what many do not know is that, Ray also makes collages, installations, photographs as well, many of which are highly political and with clear socialist leanings. His series of “Transmigration of Soul” depicting figures from history and their contextualization in the contemporary reality has been very popular. One such work presently exists in the Havana Museum of Fine Arts.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the UPDATED guidelines listed under Submit.

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Artist Profile: Kalabhakesari

This week we profile artist Kalabhakesari, who holds a National Diploma in Fine Arts from Government Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Kerala. His art reflects on contemporary issues arising out of urbanization and the pace of transformation in society, which is often in a detrimental direction.

As Kalabhakesari explains, "I am inspired by contemporary society. My paintings are about human emotions, inquiries and the anxieties of everyday life and my concerns about rapidly growing urban spaces, the aggressive invasion of rural spaces and thereby reflections of life." His art conveys the psychological and changing aspects of everyday life, the aspirations, desires and raw human emotions which accompany it. It is a comment on technology and the environment, and above all the struggle to find an identity in the urban cacophony.

Kalabhakesari won the State Award in Painting, Kerala Lalithakala Academy in 2011. He currently lives and works in Bangalore.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the UPDATED guidelines listed under Submit.

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Consider sharing this post if you like it.

Artist Profile: Manisha Vedpathak

This week we profile Manisha Vedpathak,a contemporary Indian artist, who currently lives in Ghana, West Africa. Being a self taught artist, her images have evolved over the years from realism to abstraction. Her background in Engineering helps her with composition and shapes. Manisha reveals,“My paintings create positive vibes and bring the viewer the sense of joy I feel when painting them. It is a shared feeling and I am glad when my paintings become doors through which my audiences can visit worlds of fantasy and reverie”.

Verve...The Energy

The earthy colors used in Manisha's paintings not only connect her emotionally to her Indian origins but also depict the warmness of the African continent where she now lives. Having lived in Ghana for over a decade, the influence of Ghanaian culture and art will be seen in her art.

Manisha participated in the Art fair held in Accra and she has also featured in the November 2013 issue of the magazine “Women in Art278”, which is dedicated to showcase Women artists from around the globe and in the Janaury 2014 issue of the“Indian Talent Magazine”, an online magazine showcasing Indian artists.

Threshold

Kaleidoscopic

You can view more of her works here.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the UPDATED guidelines listed under Submit.

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Artist Profile: Saurabh Turakhia

Consider sharing this post if you like it.

Artist Profile: Spoorthy Murali

Today, we profile Spoorthy Murali, an Engineer turned artist. She has renounced her IT career to pursue her life’s calling – fine arts. The translucency and fluidity of watercolors have always allured her and inspired her to experiment on different subjects in this medium.

Spoorthy's rustic Hampi series paintings, rusty Vintage Automobile series, paintings of busy Bengaluru’s lost sparrows, paintings of languid elephants of the wild, and effervescent people portrayal have all been very well received at various forums. She has brought out a vibrant series of watercolor paintings which celebrate the colors in daily life of common man in India (aam aadmi), which she dotingly calls ‘Colors of the Mango people’. She believes in soaking in the subtleties of daily life, may it be the trellis of light and shadow that trees create on roads, the drama in the shadow play while kids play in the sun, the beauty in the sunlit dancing golden waves of a sea and so on. She loves to paint every beautiful sight and hopes to see more colors in this transient world!

Spoorthy is a self taught artist and has worked with watercolors, acrylic and charcoal media. She has participated in various group shows in Bengaluru, Mysore, Cochin and Mumbai; and her paintings have found homes across India, USA, UK and Canada. 

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the UPDATED guidelines listed under Submit.

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Artist Profile: Barbara Ash

This week we profile Barbara Ash, an artist based in Bangalore and Bristol, U.K. I saw her works for the first time at Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore as part of a show and found her 'Doll' sculptures refreshingly different. These explore notions of identity and power relating to individual and media created perceptions of femininity.

 

According to Barbara, she  creates installations, sculptures and drawings that explore the world of feelings and expression, through large-scale toy and doll imagery. She trained at the Royal College of Art, London, and has been working in India since 2006; she fell in love with Bangalore and has been based there since 2010.

Barbara's idiosyncratic work celebrates colour and curves, and works on different levels, from sardonic humour and gentle critique to simple objects of visual pleasure and exuberance. She is currently developing a large body of fibre-glass pastel-painted sculptures for an otherworldly installation "Soft Power" playing with ideas of femininity and individuality.

You can view more of her works here. 

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis. If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the guidelines listed under Submit.

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Consider sharing this post if you like it.

Artist Profile: Asha Sudhaker Shenoy

This week we profile artist, Asha Sudhaker Shenoy, a self-taught artist who took to art after retirement.

Asha paints mainly in oil, while also doing watercolor sketches. She loves Indian dance and her recent series on Kathak dancers was exhibited in a Group Show in October 2013. She loves to do portraits and figurative paintings. She continues to learn the intricacies of painting from the Internet, which she feels, is a boon for anyone who wants to acquire knowledge in any field. She is happy that she has made art her profession post retirement and is enjoying it.

 You can view more of her works here.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis.  If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the guidelines listed under Submit.

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Artist Profile: Promod Gaikwad

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Consider sharing this post if you like it.
 

Artist Profile: Promod Gaikwad

This week we profile artist, Promod Gaikwad whose paintings are inspired by nature. His representation of elements in nature is not a mere repetition, but is an attempt to capture their essence and soul through a delicate balance of colors, textures and play of light.

According to Promod, "After completing my B.F.A. in painting in the year 1997, I wandered around to many cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi in search of a future, and at last I arrived at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal. Here I joined the Graphic workshop and worked in all mediums of print making. I was privileged to have a dialogue with painters, musicians, theater artists, writers and others. This gave me a golden chance to know Indian and Western art world more closely and with a different viewpoint."

 You can view more of his works here.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis.  If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the guidelines listed under Submit.


Related posts,

Artist Profile: Shruti Vij

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Consider sharing this post if you like it.

Artist Profile: Shruti Vij

This week we profile artist Shruti Vij, who has an ongoing exhibition at Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi until 21st Feb, 2014.

Shruti Vij’s artworks create a visual rhapsody of colour and strokes that come to life on canvas. Her palate includes a variety of reds, blues and greens that enthrall the viewer and are a visual treat. Her uplifting patterns enhance the artworks creating a multi-dimensional effect.

Shruti’s distinctive style has won her a strong fan following not only in India but also abroad. Recently, she held an exhibition in Dubai that saw art aficianados appreciate her work. Her artworks have been selected for India-wide exhibitions and have been appreciated at Delhi International Film Festival 2013, held in New Delhi. Some of her exhibitions include Indo- Korean Art Festival, at AIFACS, New Delhi and an exhibition at The Hungarian Information And Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

FOUR SEASONS

20"x20"

Mixed Media on paper

The painting depicts four different seasons through the use of various textures and colours.

WHIRLING   DERVISH

24"x36"

Acrylics on canvas

The painting is an ode to the Turkish Sufi Saints whose mesmerising dance provides spiritual healing to the audience.

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis.  If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the guidelines listed under Submit.

Consider sharing this post if you like it.
 

Artist Profile: Aniqa Fatima

This week we profile artist Aniqa Fatima from Karachi, Pakistan. She has a diploma in fine arts (printmaking) from Karachi School of Arts (1995) and a bachelors degree in philosophy.

She says, "My painting speaks about subject matter, conceived through knowledge and intuition and is based on the concept of being and knowing. In these colourful oil paintings, I use the shadow of an object/s at different times of sunlight. The forms are simple and expressive and their movements show the idea behind. They represent the idea of reflection. My sources of inspirations are, what are the entities to which I am not conscious or what are things I wanted to know about?"

You can see more of her works here

Art Scene India now features artists on a regular basis.  If you wish to be profiled on artsceneindia.com, please send in your submissions according to the guidelines listed under Submit.

Consider sharing this post if you liked it.

Artist Profile - Abhilash Sivadas

Abhilash Sivadas (born 28th Jan, 1985 in Muvatupuzha, Kerala) is a Bangalore based artist, photographer and graphic designer. He has over the years acquired a style best described as magical realism with an emphasis on symbolism. Abhi’s exposure to Philosophy and Symbolism spurred his desire to look inward for subjective truths. His paintings are essentially an attempt to present his perception and understanding of social issues and philosophies in a contemporary manner. He says, ‘For me, my paintings are a way to present the truth about life, and in the process I am discovering myself through others, and others through myself. I intend only to engage the viewer’s intellect and evoke a reaction.’

In an attempt to further his style of painting, he has explored a variety of media, techniques, and subject matter through which he has managed to capture in his art, subjects from figure and landscape to nonobjective abstraction. He believes that being receptive to visuals be it in the form of painting, sculptures, music or movies has helped him present a different perspective through his art.

Abhi had his first exhibition at Chitrakala Parishad Bangalore, and is currently displaying his works in various galleries across India. He is represented by Gowri Arts in Kerala. Abhi currently works out of his studio apartment in Bangalore, where in addition to painting; he indulges in playing the violin, clicking photos, creating short films and designing.

 The WALL

The human mind is conditioned to the environment that it belongs to and for the same reason ever so often, people choose to not look beyond the cave that they are forced to live in. Social conditioning ensures that be it imperialist or consumerist policies of society/nations people are willing to live with it without even treading to look beyond it. In this painting, the wall with the window represents the mental block that conform people to such conditioning, and what is shown as the world outside is a representation of what life could be. Life could be as beautiful and joyous as a spring morning, if only we allow ourselves to look beyond all the norms that we force ourselves to live in. 

The White Lotus

It does not matter where you come from, it only matters what you make of what you have got. Rising from the muddy physical mire at the bottom of the pond and floating on the water, it represents how material life passes through the surging waters of emotions, and blossoms in the fresh attitude of new life, looking towards the open skies of spiritual inspiration.  The lotus flower which is a symbol of much mystic also embodies life in the four human worlds: the physical, the emotional, the mental, and the spiritual. The lotus also captures beautifully the cycle of life & death, birth & re-birth, signifying the eternal promise of renewal and of continuation.


(Text & images by artist)