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.


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Podcast (01): Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement

This article, Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement is now available as an audio presentation, i.e. a podcast. This is my first attempt at making a podcast and I hope you will take the time to listen to it and let me have your suggestions and feedback. Also, let me know if you prefer this format, it does give you the flexibility to listen on any of your smart phones or gadgets, even while on the move.

In future, I also plan to have interviews with artists, curators and other experts and release them as podcasts.

After listening to this presentation, you can leave your comments here.

Please click on the link to play the audio,

Podcast:: Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement

 

Podcast:: Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement

If you prefer to read the text, you can read it right here.

Also read,

Tips on How to Title an Artwork

Art in Interiors: Murals Bring Art to Interiors

A mural can be an extremely versatile way to add artwork to home interiors and should be explored, writes art consultant Nalini S Malaviya

 

A mural on the wall is an interesting way to introduce art in your surroundings. A slightly off beat option, murals are far less common than paintings on walls. Having a painting done directly on the wall is a long term commitment that you make to the artwork and the artist because it cannot be moved around at whim. Folk and tribal art continues to be the most popular option in murals as these are bright and colourful. Geometric, floral and animal motifs form the narrative and it is fascinating to watch a story unfold which can compellingly draw the viewer in. Contemporary art is also a good option, which one can explore.

It can appear a little daunting to have a painting done directly on the walls and some of the issues that come up are –

• What about the outcome, is it going to turn out well?
• Will it blend with the rest of the décor?
• Will it stand out too much and become overwhelming?
• And, most importantly what do you do when you get bored with it?

These are all valid questions that one must consider before having a mural painted on a wall inside your home. One of the ways to deal with such a situation is to have the mural painted only at a later stage, for instance when the décor is in place and you have finalized wall colours, drapes and furnishings.

The advantage with a mural is that it offers great flexibility and the ability to complement the existing home décor, and therefore you can easily select themes, motives, colours and the size of the mural based on the space available and the décor. The artist will also have many ideas and will be able to guide you in terms of what is possible and what works best for that particular area. Opt for an artist who has experience in doing murals.

Interestingly, folk and tribal art works very well in almost every form of décor scheme, and in most parts of the house. For instance, it fits in very well around the main entrance, lounge, dining area and the children’s room. Folk and tribal art with their colourful strokes has a universal appeal and the theme can be adapted to suit the space. Similarly, other art forms can be painted on a wall which needs to be highlighted and can be adapted completely to complement the space available – even if is an odd shape. Columns and pillars, beams and the ceiling can also be painted to create dramatic effects.

A mural can be an extremely versatile way to add artwork to home interiors and should be explored. A few years later you can change it and have a completely new mural in its place.

This article was published in The Times of India-The Address yesterday. 
Images are sourced from the Internet.

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[en]counters 2014: Is there love in this air?

The 5th edition of ArtOxygen’s annual public art project [en]counters 2014: is there love in this air? began in Mumbai on 20 Feb, where Mumbai’s Carter Road Promenade, Juhu Beach and other spots in the city have become the sites of interventions!

Every year ArtOxygen produces and curates art projects around contemporary issues, where ‘the festival provides a platform where Indian and international artists establish a dialogue with urban spaces and explore how contemporary art practice can become a catalyst to inquire Mumbai’s everyday life and activate its few open spaces’. ArtO2 is an India-based independent art organization that aims to increase awareness of contemporary art practices.

Taking inspiration from a popular song of the ‘80s, this year’s festival revolves around the notion of air at the same time a physical and mental breathing space and an immaterial element connecting people. Ten artists from India, Hong Kong and Singapore are participating in the project.

This year’s project revolving around the notion of air has site specific works which have evolved in response to the site. Interactions with viewers (walker, joggers and others) who are part of the landscape on that particular site act as catalysts in a sense and activate the artworks through their participation. Introducing an element of the unexpected the public art project attempts to initiate a dialogue that explores the dynamics of the encounter between the art and the viewer.

According to Leandre D’Souza from ArtO2, “Through site-specific ephemeral installations, situational performances, time-based street actions, community workshops, they will create new creative trajectories in spaces uncommon for the arts.” With an interesting line up of artists, the project promises to create interesting interventions in Mumbai’s Carter Road Promenade, Juhu Beach and other spots in the city.


According to the press release from ArtO2, the artworks include ‘a miniature piece inviting viewers to quench their spiritual hunger as they discover a trail of rice grains inscribed with text by writers and philosophers by Hema Upadhyay. Pradeep L Mishra’s work looks at the human cycle of life-death-afterlife as he creates a sea of agarbatti sticks exuding, when lit, a natural and delicate fragrance as a way to counteract the harsh odours and chemical toxins filling the city’s air. Reena Saini Kallat presents a personal piece along the shores of the beach as she shares with us a letter by a mother to her child. As she writes the letter using salt, the work repeatedly gets washed away and highlights the fragility of our existence and the instability of our natural environment. Vibha Galhotra’s Orbis Unum II tries to create a world without borders, orders or differences communicated through words and symbols inspired from the eight testimonies of Buddhism, revisited and transferred onto a series of flags.

A musical box by Mee Ping Leung, whose tune raises issues of imprisonment, freedom, loss and bonding and SoundPocket will present soundscapes of HK that will be juxtaposed in locations across the city and Lo Chi Kit will collect stories of Indian migrants in HK that he will translate on to transparent adhesives. Upon installation, the work will be invisible but as dust collects and sticks on to the adhesive, the stories will magically appear’*.

Art interventions will be held at multiple sites in Mumbai until 2nd March, 2014.
 
*Excerpts from press release sent by ArtO2
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Tips on How to Title an Artwork

What is the purpose of the title of an art work?

An appropriate title can add value to the artwork and complement it, whereas a pretentious or incongruous title can sometimes be a distraction. An interesting title can even spark an interest in the artwork and engage the viewer instantly. Assigning a title to an artwork requires a certain amount of skill which can be easily developed over the years and therefore becomes easier with experience. 

I am sure everyone has grappled with naming an artwork, trying to find the perfect title which describes the work of art to perfection and is an apt representation of the artist’s intention. It can be a challenge because it does require an articulation of the visual imagery.  

The title of an artwork is an introduction and provides a context to the viewer and allows him/her to approach it with a sense of anticipation.  I find short titles which are descriptive and aligned with the visuals work best.  Very long and ostentatious titles sound just that, exaggerated and even absurd.   

Also, I’m not particularly fond of ‘Untitled’, except in rare cases where an artwork truly does not require any descriptive effort.  There are some instances where an artwork is simply eloquent and speaks for itself; here a title would be an encumbrance. In most untitled works, the general impression is that a suitable title could not be found or sufficient effort was not put into it.

I’ve noticed there is a strong inclination to title abstracts as ‘Untitled’, but I find that an unusual and creative title adds so much value to the artwork.  It makes it easier to relate to the artist and the art. Unique names are easier to track and remember and naming artworks is useful for documentation purposes as well.

Coming up with the perfect title

Finding the right title can be an interesting process, since titles can be simple and straightforward, descriptive, numbered after the series, imaginative and even philosophical.  The names can be based on colours, emotions, events, elements, objects, location, literary text, popular fiction and concept, depending on the content and theme of the artwork.  For instance, while naming a landscape, instead of calling it Landscape-1, II, III, or Seasons or Nature, describing the mood and colours in the artwork may be more effective.

Remember that the title also gives an indication of the depth of your artwork and whether it is meant to be literal or figurative.  It gives a clue whether it must be read at the surface level or should one go deeper and look for the philosophical intent.  Similarly, if your work is inspired by another artist’s series or a writer’s book, then the title could give an indication about the original work, yet emphasize that it is your interpretation of it.

Steps

• Begin by jotting down the thoughts and ideas behind your artwork.  Ideally this should be done when you are at the conceptual stage of the artwork.  Still it’s never too late and in any case you have to do this for your artist statement!
• Write down phrases which express your intent and views, then choose the ones which work best and correlate with the artwork.
• See if you can simplify them further, yet make them sound better. A thesaurus can be a very useful tool in looking for similar and better sounding words, but do make sure that the meaning remains unchanged.
• Excerpts or short phrases from literary prose and poetry which are adapted to suit the artwork can certainly add interest.  However, this doesn’t always work. The reverse works much better, i.e. if your art is based or inspired by a particular literary text then naming it accordingly highlights the connection.
• Although, not all titles may appear on Google, it may help to cross check to ensure that your title is original.  If not you can introduce minor variations.

Regional language

In India we have many artists who are comfortable and prefer to title their works in a regional language.  Every language has an inherent charm and beauty and therefore for regional exhibitions, use of local language is an excellent idea and helps to form a bond between the viewer and the artwork.  However, if the exhibition is a travelling one or there is a chance that it may be shown abroad, it might be a good idea to have a transliteration of the text in English.

Let me know how you go about naming your artworks and if you have any tips for others.  As a viewer have you come across any interesting titles that you would like to share, please comment below.

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Related posts,

Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement 

How to Organize an Art Exhibition

Guide: Exhibiting your Artworks