This is my second attempt to start blogging! I let the ball drop last time for some reason, I guess! But I can't think of anything right now, other than sheer laziness!
I have a rare knack for procrastination..... I do it with expertise! I simply forget things that really needs to be done! I have been told that this stems from fear! Well, since I consider myself to be completely fearless, I chalk it out to laziness.And I obviously have lots of stuff to do: trying to avoid doing things. Pulling up my pants and buckling down and hopefully will follow up this time.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
New Painting
The best day of painting is the start . The excitement of starting something new can be intoxicating. It is a new beginning and the possibility is endless. Maybe this painting will be the one that will finally define me as a painter? There is a kind of intoxication involved. The heart beats a little faster the sun shines a little brighter and I feel alive to the core of my being. Well, when you finish a painting the feeling can be as powerful , even if it is completely different! It is either a feeling of something accomplished or the searing sadness of a failed attempt. It is the in between phase that is the most grueling. It is a time of intense labor, even if it is labor of love. At that time there is no beginning or end , it is a survival from minute to minute. I might even suggest that this period is akin to labor pain: you are in the process of giving birth to something new and the pain is tremendous.You might give birth to something magnificent or a monster. Well, I am in the process of conceiving and enjoying the moment!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Mother
Mother's day is the stupidest day in the invention of all the "days" ! I understnad Valentine's day... It is a day when a woman reminds her lover/husband to get those credit cards out! I like that day! All those guilt free trips to the salon and the boutiques with his credit card.... Poor men can't even complain without sounding like a neanderthal! We do buy them a card and perfume but its them who has to bear the burnt of that day.
But Mother's day is an insult to mothers! Every day should be a mother's day! Does mothers get a single day off from motherhood? It encompasses our very being! Whatever we do , wherever we go, we carry the badge of "motherhood" with us!even our thought dont stay focused on us anymore! We always have to think twice, once for ourselves and once for our children! I don't think we need a day to remind us that mothers her special!
I call my mom often , even when she is actually not talking to me! She does that sometime. Some imaginary slight from my part puts her heckales up and her punishment is always the silent treatment! I am used to it by now! Actually , only after having a daughter it became clear to me why my mom takes everything personally! When Paloma wants nothing to do with me and wants to play with daddy , I feel that she is betraying me! Come on, I became fat for that girl! All those stretch marks are not gonna disappear!! All I want from her is her undying devotion! Dad is just the sperm guy, whose part was over in few secondds! I had to be the one who had to lug around that humongous belly!!
In a single day, how many times a mother thinks of her children? If she is like me, once every two minutes! Shouldn't children think of their mother at least once a day?
I want everyday to be a mothers day!
But Mother's day is an insult to mothers! Every day should be a mother's day! Does mothers get a single day off from motherhood? It encompasses our very being! Whatever we do , wherever we go, we carry the badge of "motherhood" with us!even our thought dont stay focused on us anymore! We always have to think twice, once for ourselves and once for our children! I don't think we need a day to remind us that mothers her special!
I call my mom often , even when she is actually not talking to me! She does that sometime. Some imaginary slight from my part puts her heckales up and her punishment is always the silent treatment! I am used to it by now! Actually , only after having a daughter it became clear to me why my mom takes everything personally! When Paloma wants nothing to do with me and wants to play with daddy , I feel that she is betraying me! Come on, I became fat for that girl! All those stretch marks are not gonna disappear!! All I want from her is her undying devotion! Dad is just the sperm guy, whose part was over in few secondds! I had to be the one who had to lug around that humongous belly!!
In a single day, how many times a mother thinks of her children? If she is like me, once every two minutes! Shouldn't children think of their mother at least once a day?
I want everyday to be a mothers day!
Monday, May 3, 2010
For some reason I have steered clear of Indian concept of art ! I have seen and admired Indian miniatures but have not formed an intimate relationship with it! Having been trained in western art , somehow the decorative aspect of traditional Indian art seemed a little foreign to me! It is funny that your own can seem so alien! A recent visit to Boston MFA made me realize the scope of what goes under the term" Indian Art".
Most of the time when we talk about the Indian Folk Art , it means pictures/statues made in Indian villages, by both men and women, mostly for decorative purposes.The so called Indian Folk Art were generally made by family of painters who have been working at the profession for generations. I don't think there was any concept of individuality! It was a family business, that's all! That is not to say that they lacked signature style.There was always a marked difference between different workshops and the "master" painter ruled the roost. Most of the time the master painter also turned out to be the male head of the family.
Not only the quality of work differed from workshop to workshop but it also depended on the history, sociology and geography of the regions it was produced. The art produced in Gujarat is markedly different from that of Bengal. To some extent their style and quality depended on the materials available in the place in which they were executed And these very factors help us to identify them region wise. And yet, through all the apparent diversity there runs an underlying unity which makes them 'Indian'.
The paintings or miniatures that I saw in Boston cannot be called "local art" though! They were specifically made for the nobility and the court!Best painters from different regions were brought to the court and their work styles were infused together to make what is called the 'court art' .Of course the craftsmanship improved under the royal tutelage. Not only the best artists were employed for producing these works but the materials and the time spent on these works were exceptional! Nothing short of finest silk and gold leafing were used to produce these works.
Anyhow , my point is that I feel guilty that I have neglected Indian art for so long! Now that I am really "looking" I can see the influence of "Kalighat" school of painting in works by Picasso and Gris. Works by Klimt also borrowed heavily from Indian art. These painters ignored perspective, used color for its own sake or for symbolic purposes and had freely distorted and modified the human form-just like the Indian traditional paintings!
Most of the time when we talk about the Indian Folk Art , it means pictures/statues made in Indian villages, by both men and women, mostly for decorative purposes.The so called Indian Folk Art were generally made by family of painters who have been working at the profession for generations. I don't think there was any concept of individuality! It was a family business, that's all! That is not to say that they lacked signature style.There was always a marked difference between different workshops and the "master" painter ruled the roost. Most of the time the master painter also turned out to be the male head of the family.
Not only the quality of work differed from workshop to workshop but it also depended on the history, sociology and geography of the regions it was produced. The art produced in Gujarat is markedly different from that of Bengal. To some extent their style and quality depended on the materials available in the place in which they were executed And these very factors help us to identify them region wise. And yet, through all the apparent diversity there runs an underlying unity which makes them 'Indian'.
The paintings or miniatures that I saw in Boston cannot be called "local art" though! They were specifically made for the nobility and the court!Best painters from different regions were brought to the court and their work styles were infused together to make what is called the 'court art' .Of course the craftsmanship improved under the royal tutelage. Not only the best artists were employed for producing these works but the materials and the time spent on these works were exceptional! Nothing short of finest silk and gold leafing were used to produce these works.
Anyhow , my point is that I feel guilty that I have neglected Indian art for so long! Now that I am really "looking" I can see the influence of "Kalighat" school of painting in works by Picasso and Gris. Works by Klimt also borrowed heavily from Indian art. These painters ignored perspective, used color for its own sake or for symbolic purposes and had freely distorted and modified the human form-just like the Indian traditional paintings!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
First Blog
All right, this is my first day blogging! Ever!! I have nothing particular to write right now but good stuff will start coming pretty soon!
Of course the central theme is going to arts. Visual arts for most part but also social political discussions! EXCITED
Of course the central theme is going to arts. Visual arts for most part but also social political discussions! EXCITED
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