Art Scene India

4 Dec 2014

Art News: Bhopal - A Silent Picture by Samar Jodha

Samar Jodha’s art installation is a grim reminder of the tragedy that continues to haunt Bhopal to this day.

December 2, 1984 is a date firmly etched in our minds. The Bhopal gas tragedy remains the largest industrial disaster in the world, when 42 tons of the deadly methyl isocyanate leaked from the Union Carbide plant poisoning more than half a million people and taking 30,000 lives.

Today, 30 years later the lethal gas continues to maim and kill, even as victims wait endlessly for justice and compensation. With the recent death of Warren M. Anderson, the chief executive officer of the UCC at the time, Bhopal disaster survivors are struggling to find any form of closure to the tragic event.

Art News: Bhopal - A Silent Picture by Samar Jodha, Art Scene India

Samar Jodha’s art installation is a grim reminder of the tragedy and a tribute to the innocent and faceless victims. An activist artist Jodha has been using photography and film for the past 20 years to address issues such as development, human rights and conservation.

"A striking document which will contribute to perpetuate the memory of an apocalyptic event," says Dominique Lapierre, the co-author of It Was Five Past Midnight in Bhopal about Jodha's project. Bhopal - A Silent Picture is a multimedia installation that simulates an environment with sound, light and temperature to recreate the sensory experience of the night of the disaster.

the project creates a simulated environment through sound, light and controlled temperature inside the container that takes the viewer through a proximate experience - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/bhopal-gas-tragedy-themed-art-installation-in-rome/article1-1292774.aspx#sthash.HlPsFiud.dpuf

The photographs in the multimedia installation have been shot at the Union Carbide plant, which has since been sealed. The leakage from that fateful night continues to poison the soil, air and water of its surrounding areas. 'The images portray an eerie emptiness – comparable to the Nazi gas chambers of Auschwitz. However, unlike Auschwitz, the perpetrators of this crime continue to walk free. The victims – largely poor people, continue to be denied fair compensation, adequate health care or legal redressal. Worse, they are forced behind a veil of indifference and enforced silence. This installation also hints at this state of affairs with a shroud bearing names and file numbers of some of the victims’ that envelops them in anonymity' elaborates Jodha's website.

Jodha began working on the …Silent Picture project in 2004, when a UK-based TV channel asked him to take a few pictures of the site to mark 20 years of the tragedy. After completing his assignment for the channel, he began working independently there and has shown the resultant cargo container interactive art installation in the UK, US and Switzerland since 2009.
Jodha took his exhibit to London during the 2012 Olympics, as a mark of protest against Dow Chemical Company, the parent company of Union Carbide, acting as official partner of the Games.
- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/bhopal-gas-tragedy-themed-art-installation-in-rome/article1-1292774.aspx#sthash.HlPsFiud.dpuf

Jodha's art installation has traveled to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Over 85,000 people visited this project in Mumbai in a week alone, making it the largest ever-viewed public art project in India.

In association with Amnesty International Italy, Jodha’s installation is on display at the Piazza Della Repubblica in Rome till December 6, 2014.

1 Dec 2014

Tips: Exhibiting Art in Non-Gallery Spaces

What you should know before exhibiting your artwork in alternative spaces, such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and even malls.

In a weak economy, it helps to be creative and look for alternative sources of income. For an artist it could mean exploring online options for selling art and it could also involve looking for unconventional venues and non-gallery spaces for exhibiting art. In this context, let’s consider the factors involved in exhibiting your artworks in spaces, such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and even malls.

Exhibiting Art in Non-Gallery Spacessuch as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and even malls, Art Scene India

In India, there have been a lot of changes in the art scene and people are adopting creative approaches to tap newer markets and clientele. Many shows are organized by art dealers and promoters in alternate venues. When a show is organized by a professional, it becomes easier for artists to navigate terms and conditions and ensure that all their concerns are addressed.

On the other hand, if as an artist, you are approached directly to put up a few artworks in a commercial space, you need to ensure that you get a fair deal. Working outside a gallery can be a complicated process with several unknown elements and it helps to have a clear picture of what it encompasses. Knowing that art can be a huge draw for their clients, there are an increasing number of commercial venues who are exploring tie ups with artists and galleries. Having an art show or just having art on the walls does make it a culturally enhanced space, so yes; they need you as much as you need them.

There are benefits in exhibiting in a non-gallery space if you can take care of a few factors. One of the first things that you should do is to make sure that exhibiting in such a venue is not conflicting with the policies of any of the galleries that you are associated with.

Exposure and Visibility

A huge advantage in exhibiting in a non-gallery space is that the audience is very different from the regular crowd which visits art galleries. So, in terms of exposure and visibility it is a great idea to explore alternative venues, especially if you have artworks to spare. There is a chance that you may not sell your artworks, as people who walk in for meals or coffee are often unlikely to buy art on a whim. More so, if this is a place which is not a regular on the art and culture scene! Having said that, remember that such venues are growing in number which means that the audience is becoming more aware and conditioned to the idea of buying art.

Here are a few things to know when finalizing the place. Make sure it is a space which has sufficient footfalls and the ambience is interesting. Discuss with the management to ensure that the display is good and your artwork is not being used simply for the purposes of interior decoration.

If it is going to be an exhibition for a short time, then it makes sense to ensure there is enough publicity for the event and there are invites, write-ups and print material to give out more information about you - contact details and your profile. Remember, people who are buying your art would like to know more about you.

It helps to have multiple events to coincide with your show. You could and should insist on having a preview, in addition to other events which could be related to food, music or artist interactions. These are all beneficial and help to get people to come and attend these functions and hopefully also buy.

It’s important that the artworks appear to be on sale and not part of the interior décor, because unless clearly stated even if a visitor likes the painting, he is not going to inquire about it if it looks like the painting is part of the décor. Carefully work out the sizes and costs of the artworks to make them attractive to clients.

Confirm

Costs: Framing and printing of the invites, cards and leaflets. Are there any other costs? If there is a preview who is bearing the cost.

Duration: How long will the artworks be on display – short term (less than one month) or is it for a longer (more than six months) time frame. In case it is for a longer time, you may want to rotate/replace the paintings every couple of months.

Commission: How much is the hotel going to charge you for the sale of each artwork? The percentage is usually significantly lower than what an art gallery would normally charge.

Exposure: Find out if they plan to advertise, send out newsletters to their clients or if they will hire a PR Agency to do the media publicity.

Display: Where are the artworks displayed? Is it in some corner where no one will see it, or is it in a high visibility area where there are a lot of visitors? Give your inputs to ensure a good display. Make sure the lighting is appropriate and highlights your work.

Insurance: Who is responsible for loss or damage to the artwork – what about insurance costs?

Work out the logistics of delivering the artworks – packaging and shipping and discuss the payment options in advance.

I hope this helps you when next time you are approached by a commercial venue to have an exhibition.

If you have exhibited in a hotel, café or a mall, tell us about your experience, Also, if you have any suggestions, please share with us.

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25 Nov 2014

Blogerversary: Art Scene India Completes 8 Years

8 Years of my Online Avatar

Blogging for the last eight years has been one of the best decisions of my life. Even though it started out as a random extension of my work in 2006, the blog has organically grown into a niche site on art.

You may remember, in the initial phase, I was essentially sharing most of my print articles in order to reach out to a larger audience on the web. Starting with a basic template on blogger, May to November 2006 was all about figuring out how to upload content and tweaking the template according to my requirements. I remember I had to depend on my husband (an IIT alumni, no less!) to make most of those changes which involved programming skills.

A few years down the line, when I migrated to another template, I was more confident about making the switch on my own, ensuring that all backups were taken care of. The last thing you want is for all the data to disappear during the transition!

Indian Art (2006) to Art Scene India (2014)

And, then finally about a year ago, I opted to move to a sleek, uncluttered look with a white background. I was even able to customize the template to a large extent. I opened up the site to advertisers and for the very first time I talked about my blogging journey and the challenging times that I went through. If you haven’t read it, you can take a look here.

Coming back to this story, so, even though Art Scene India may not be perfect, it is a website that is unique and tries to conform to highest standards of online publishing. Remember, today blogging is not just about creating great content but involves so much more - keywords, SEO, image titles and alt tags, social media and the works. For a non-technical person with zero programming skills it can often be a challenge, as I have often discovered. Fortunately, I have a great community of readers, YOU, who have been amazingly supportive throughout!

Most Read/Favourite Posts

This November, on the blog’s 8th anniversary, it is time to reflect, take stock and plan ahead!
Just to let you know, the first post ever published on this blog was on 2nd November, 2006. It was an article written on Atul Dodiya for Times of India. I talked to Atul close to 2 hours and had recorded the entire conversation – he was a delight to talk to, especially once he opened up. He shared details about his life, his journey and his family – a wonderful conversation, how I wish I had saved the audio!

Raja Ravi Verma’s Lady in Moonlight NGMA Bangalore

A writeup on NGMA, Bangalore has been one of the most visited articles on my website. It was linked from Wikipedia as I found out accidentally, but then I later discovered that it (the link) was deleted.

Another post, a really short one on Mandana Art is a close second on the list of most visited articles on Art Scene India. It definitely needs to be updated because the information is so sketchy that I am sure the readers’ visiting the page must be disappointed. If you know any artist belonging to the Meena community, do let me know. Top 10 Posts of 2013: Time to Wrap Up and More is also one of the most read posts.

Here are a few of my favourite posts and which I wrote exclusively for you. I would love to have you revisit them 10 Tips For Buying Art, 6 Tips on How to Approach an Art Gallery and Find Gallery Representation, How To Write An Artist Statement and How to Create an Online Presence. All of these have been quite popular with readers. Incidentally, most of these topics have evolved into lectures for art students and workshops for practicing artists!

It's All About You

As I look back at the last eight years, I realize it has been a long time and even though there were moments when things were difficult and I was not able to post much, I am happy to be here. With you.

I’m sharing a part of what Jaideep Sen, art writer & amateur artist, sent me by email, “Nalini Malaviya's blog, Art Scene India, has for many years been the definitive archive and resource for art-show attenders & enthusiasts in Bangalore. As an art writer, I have incessantly referenced and borrowed material and info from her blog, Art Scene India... I'm indebted, to say the least, and continue to seek inspiration in her commitment to the arts in Bangalore." Thank you, Jaideep for your generous words!

Lot more is planned and on the anvil. You have to come back and check it out for yourself. And, thank you for being part of this amazing journey.

Finally, a huge thank you to the advertisers and sponsors who have supported Art Scene India!
You may also want to take a look at the updated 'About' and 'Advertise' pages.

I would love to know which have been your favourite posts? What changes do you want to see on this website? What is it that you want to read? Drop a comment here or send me a mail. You know I want to hear from you!

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20 Nov 2014

Art News: ‘ABHISARAN’ Convergence of Artists at Heritage Site

A dialogue in contemporary and performing arts across borders for a new age India at Vijayanagara, Karnataka

A Convergence of 5 Countries, 10 Artists at a World Heritage Site

This November, ten talented artists from across the Indian subcontinent have converged at Vijayanagar Karnataka for ‘Abhisaran’, a 3-week long residency programme hosted by the JSW Foundation to create art that recognises the reality of today and the beauty of a time gone by.

Art News: ‘ABHISARAN’ Convergence of Artists at Heritage Site, Art Scene India

Abhisaran literally translates to ‘convergence’, a residency programme which acts as a focal point where artists, from similar political and cultural history of the Indian sub-continent, interact and create art works inspired by the historicity of Hampi and Vijayanagar. Amit Jain, Curator of the project adds, “Abhisaran is a dialogue in contemporary and performing arts across borders for a new age India.” The Heritage Site of Hampi, the industrial town of Vijayanagar and the arts, crafts and performance practices of Hampi are serving as an inspiration ground for these artists.

Drawing from Richard Sennett’s idea of a ‘craftsman’ being a skilled labour who engages with the questions of ‘how’ (Animal Laborans) and ‘why’ (Homo Faber) in the making of a craft (or art), this workshop hopes to empower the artists with raw material that is age old yet functional questioning both the purpose of their production and its effect on various communities. It provides an opportunity where artists can use their imagination and experience to create art works with medium of their choosing.

The artists are using site-specific material like metal scrap, local pottery, local crafts and material to create works with a variety of mediums that include sculptural installations, dance, video and sound.

The artists taking part in Abhisaran are Baptist Coelho (India), Chinthaka Thenuwara (Sri Lanka), Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh), Mrugen Rathod (India), Muzummil Ruheel (Pakistan), Pala Pothupitiya (Sri Lanka), Preksha Tater (India), Seema Nusrat (Pakistan), Sanjeev Mahajan (Nepal) and Sheelasha Rajbhandhari (Nepal).

The residency will end on November 30, 2014.

(Excerpts from press release)

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18 Nov 2014

Art in Interiors: Painting a Wall

An entire wall painted with a mural can be the highlight of any décor scheme

The impact of a single large artwork in interiors is well recognized as it can dominate any space and set the tone for the entire décor. There are two ways to go about it - one can either display a very large painting on a wall to cover it completely and make it a centerpiece. Or, one can treat the wall as the canvas and paint it directly. The impact of a painted wall, essentially a mural is definitely more striking. It is therefore important to choose the right wall for this purpose, for instance, it should be prominently placed so that it can easily become the highlight of the décor scheme.

Art in Interiors, Mural by artist Bharati Sagar, Image courtesy artist, Art Scene India

Once the wall is decided, it is essential to choose the theme and the artist with care to ensure best results. There are artists who specialize in doing murals and it would be a good idea to get in touch with one. The paint materials which are used for a mural have to be selected such that they can be sustained over the years, and the painting remains fresh and undamaged. The advantage in commissioning an artist is that the residents can participate actively in the concept, design and details of the artwork.

Art in Interiors, Mural by artist Bharati Sagar, Art Scene India, Times of India-The Address

An uncluttered wall will display a mural to its advantage, however one could even have the wall behind the television painted with a mural as most of the seating is directed towards it. On the other hand, a mural on a wall directly in front of an entrance, such as a bedroom or a children’s room will work, as long as it is conspicuously placed. Once an entire wall is painted, it is important to not clutter it with more artworks, especially paintings.

The lighting of the mural also requires care so that every detail and nuance gets accentuated effectively. More than one spotlight may be necessary to cover the entire mural. Again, lights must be chosen so that they do not harm the colours of the painting.

This article was published in The Times of India-The Address recently.
Image courtesy artist Bharati Sagar

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