An artist’s fascination for football

Interestingly, Alok Bal dreamt of becoming a football player but failed to pursue his passion owing to unavoidable turn of events. Not disheartened, he opted to reflect his love for the game on canvas that captured its beauty and the human skills involved. Apart from painting ‘two feet poetry’, he started a football academy in 2007 in Baroda (XYZ Football Club) to encourage aspiring footballers. He has been playing football since his childhood. Terming this ‘beautiful game’ a way of life, he feels it’s more than just a sport – rather a philosophy and every sportsman a philosopher.

After his fascinating football series (‘Football Fever’; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai), he produced ‘Black Landscape’ in 2007 that touched upon another facet of his artistic quest. Ironically, while on the one hand, individualism is on the rise, one’s identity is under threat, as the artist wants to bring to our notice. His landscapes refer to the self-inflicted problems arising from unplanned development.

They comment in a lighter vein on our tendency to manipulate the surroundings, regardless of the ill effects. Urban growth, resulting from blatant manipulation of natural resources and the resultant changes in ecology is inextricably linked to the very roots of human existence. He prompts the viewer to contemplate over issues that bear immediate significance and future consequences.

At a broader level, the artistic realm that Alok Bal depicts is materialistic to the core wherein the central characters are often effigies of voyeurism and egotism. This vicious world, often overlooked by most of us, is portrayed in-depth by this sensitive and observant artist who peeps into complexities of relationships; between people and their immediate surroundings.

Metaphorical usage of flying dainty figures, serene colors, the scratches and the realistically done attributes are all skillfully stitched together in his compositions that exude lyrical sophistication, hiding beneath it insecurities of self-existence. He raises a question mark the place and space of the individual lost in a city.

'Ember' by Alok Bal

The new Delhi-based Galley, Latitude 28, currently hosts a solo show by Alok Bal that includes over 40 works –done in wood, glass, found human waste (used cloth, plastic, medicine wrappers, pipes etc) apart from canvases and paper works that according to him is about ‘the theme of human suffering caused by the prevailing socio-political system and also the one that we happen to create within ourselves, to add to the pain’.

The outcome is an extreme imbalance in our outer and inner selves, leading to destruction, ultimately. He adds: “The main inspiration is my surroundings, people, life, nature and, of course, my inner self. Like my previous body of work, this show too is about cityscapes, but with a difference. Previously I would focus on the exterior, but this time, I have tried to get into the interior, the more psychological aspects of life of urban human beings.”

The gallery director, Bhavna Kakar, states that his current body of work is dynamic in its diversity. While his paintings are serene and metaphorical, his works in found human waste, wooden box and glass show his versatility in handling various mediums. Also a nature lover who loves trekking in the forests of Gujarat, it’s no wonder that he paints an unsettling picture of natural habitats being replaced by concrete jungles and the human tendency to tame nature in all its forms. He extends the environment versus development debate to reveal his concerns for the changing behavior and lifestyle of the human race as well as the effects on birds and animals.

A press release to his solo, entitled ‘Ember’ elaborates: “The contrast in topography from his native Orissa to the fast developing city of Baroda cannot be ignored in his work. From his studio on the 10th floor in Baroda, he has been witness to the changing Baroda skyline; the view of an endless sea of tenements with cement grey terraces blending with the smoky, polluted sky and this is a recurring source of inspiration in his works. These images also surfaced in his last solo show in Delhi in 2007.”

An artist’s concern for socio-environmental fall and fallacies

Born in Orissa in 1969, Alok Bal's childhood was spent in the midst of nature, surrounded by lovely hills, dense forests vast cultivated lands and beautiful riverbeds quite in contrast to the present realities. After securing a formal degree in Commerce, he decided to study art. He completed his B.F.A. (1998) followed by a Post-Diploma in Painting from M.S. University, Baroda (2001).

His recent selected group shows include  'Angkor Wat: An Indian Perspective', Gallery Art and Soul, Mumbai (2012); 'Freedom to March: Rediscovering Gandhi through Dandi' courtesy Ojas Art at Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi; 'Irreverent Gene', Crimson- The Art Resource, Bangalore; 'Symbols and Metaphors', CIMA, Kolkata; and 'India Rising: Tradition Meets Modernity' courtesy Ati Art Gallery (all in 2010). Among his recent participations are 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai  (2012), and 'Art Celebrates 2010: Sports and the City' courtesy Anant Art at LKA, Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games.

Recipient of the National Scholarship, (Human Resource Ministry) in 1998, the figurative artist was initially influenced by British pop art and that in the US, but he gradually found his own idiom, artistic vision and voice. Experimentation plays an important role in his practice. Summing up his artistic inclinations and creative processes, Alok Bal states: “I observe and absorb things around, unconsciously or intentionally, and build my work around an ‘idea’ that serves as the starting point of my creative process. It comes from within and gradually becomes an integral part of me.

"I sketch and draw quite a bit before I actually begin a painting. One thought leads to another, and so does my painting. There’s a definite connection and a progression. As ideas reinventing and replacing themselves, my style and painterly technique may accordingly change. However, the underlying philosophy remains the same. Apart from a touch of playfulness, there is a conscious effort to retain the spontaneity in my work, which prevents it from getting stereotyped.”

Classic and new art shows at Grand Palais, Paris

Grand Palais in Paris is currently hosting a few interesting shows, namely ‘Dynamo: A century of Light and Motion Art: 1913-2013); Chagall: Between War and peace; and From Cézanne to Matisse, From Van Gogh to Bonnard

A century of Light and Motion Art:

Notions of space, vision and light run through the abstract art of the 20th century and interest many world renowned contemporary artists such as Ann Veronica Janssens, Anish Kapoor, John Armleder, Carsten Höller, Philippe Decrauzat, Jeppe Hein, Felice Varini and Xavier Veilhan. By putting vibration along with the spectator’s perception in the centre of their works, they set up multiple resonances with optical and kinetic art, which first emerged at the Movement exhibition in Denise René’s Paris gallery in 1955, but also, more broadly, with what was later called "perceptual art" at the exhibition The Responsive Eye at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1965.

Chagall: Between War and peace

Chagall was nearly a hundred when he died in 1985. He had crossed most of the 20th century, living through one revolution, two wars and a period of exile, and rubbing shoulders with some of its most avant garde artists. His personal experience of History, the memory of people he knew, his travels and his homeland shine through in his work.

From Cézanne to Matisse and From Van Gogh to Bonnard

The exhibition Le Grand Atelier du Midi is a crucial part of Marseilles-Provence 2013, European Capital of Culture and undeniably one of the flagship events in the 2013 cultural program. Designed as a diptych–showing at the Palais Longchamp in Marseilles and the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence–it presents over 200 masterpieces painted between 1880 and 1950-1960. Starting from two tutelary figures of the modern movement, Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, it seeks to show how the South of France, in a broad sense, going from the north of Spain to the Italian Riviera, with a few sallies into North Africa, was an extraordinary laboratory for experimenting with modern ideas in painting.

Life and art journey of a great early Indian modernist

Here are a few important milestones from the life and art journey of a great early Indian modernist:

• Ramkinkar Baij (1906-1980) was born in Bankura, West Bengal, into a family of little economic and social standing, and grew by sheer determination, into one of the most distinguished early modernists in Indian art.
• In 1925, he made his way to Kala Bhavan, the art school at Santiniketan and was under the guidance of Nandalal Bose. Encouraged by the liberating intellectual environment of Santiniketan, his artistic skills and intellectual horizons blossomed, thus acquiring greater depth and complexity.
• Soon after completing his studies at Kala Bhavana he became a faculty member, and along with Nandalal and Benodebehari Mukherjee played a pivotal role in making Santiniketan one of the most important centers for modern art in pre-Independent India. In 1970, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his irrefutable contribution to Indian art.
• His monumental sculptures established landmarks in public art. One of the earliest modernists in Indian art, he assimilated the idioms of the European modern visual language and yet was rooted it in his own Indian ethos.
• He experimented restlessly with forms, moving freely from figurative to abstract and back to figurative, his themes were steeped in a deep sense of humanism and an instinctive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between man and nature.
• Both in his paintings and sculptures, he pushed the limits of experimentation and ventured into the use of new materials. For instance, his use of unconventional material, for the time, such as cement concrete for his monumental public sculptures set a new precedent for art practices. The use of cement, laterite and mortar to model the figures, and his blending of western and Indian pre-classical sculptural values was equally radical.

Indeed, Ramkinkar Baij has been the subject of much mythification. His powerful experimentations, ranging from the representational to the abstract have inspired generations of younger artists.

7 keys to a productive and aesthetically rich portfolio

1.    Ideally, it makes sense to build a portfolio that strikes a balance between both contemporary and modern works as each category has its own market potential and strength. If the former stands for the culture and idiom of today’s times, the latter represents our nation’s glorious past and developments of the post-Independence phase.

2.    Apart from acquiring works by established contemporaries such as Paresh Maity, Jagannath Panda, Rashid Rana, Jogen Chowdhury and Arpita Singh who have recorded consistent value appreciation, many young contemporaries with immense potential, however, relatively unknown and fresh, are worth considering.

3.    Of course, spotting them would need expert inputs so that you can choose well. Albeit a bit risky, these artists can yield handsome returns. Those promoted by leading galleries and recommended by experienced dealers harbor higher probability of rising in hierarchy and the value chain faster thanks to greater exposure – in India and internationally.

4.    There are other considerations like how accomplished an artist is, how broad collector base is, and what the prevailing market trends are. Opinions and views of influential collectors and investors must also be taken into account to get a broader perspective.

5.    Develop an insight on the linkage between art and money, which is as important as the aesthetic aspect. Whether you are a general art aficionado or a serious collector, opt for advice from domain experts with proven records so that you can grasp all aspects of both primary and secondary markets.

6.    The macro and micro elements of the art market mechanics, which help determine value, investment potential and collectability of artworks over time, should be studied and analyzed. The markets for different types of art vary due to elements like longevity, supply and demand.

7.    Aspects like liquidity, investment options, the different ways of valuing art, and price fluctuations need to be grasped. To make the task easier of buying and selling art, several online auction houses have emerged on the scene. They have simplified and democratized the process for new entrants to the market. The Web-based sales channels have opened up art to a wider user base, traversing physical and geographical constraints, bringing about a fundamental change.

AstaGuru Modern Indian Art Auction is successful

AstaGuru.com conducted the Modern Indian Art Auction on May 14 and 15, 2013.  The auction has been successful, as the results indicate, some of them mentioned below.  We provide a quick glance of the results, the details of which can be had on http://www.astaguru.com/

Lot. No.:           1
Artist:             Jamini Roy
Title:             Untitled
Medium:          Tempera on Board
Size:              9 x 20in.
Estimate:         US$ 6,863 - 8,824 (Rs. 350,000 - 450,000)
Exhibited & Published:     Past Present Unto The Future of Indian Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, 2007
Provenance: From the private collection of a Mumbai based collector, originally sold by Dhoomimal Gallery

Winning Bid US$.: 11,185 Rs. 570,443 - (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)

Lot. No.:      2
Artist:           Jamini  Roy
Title:            Untitled
Medium:       Tempera on Board
Size:            12.5 X 8.5in.
Estimate:      US$ 4,902 - 5,882 (Rs. 250,000 - 300,000)
This lot is a National Art Treasure - Non Exportable Item
Provenance: From a private collector, originally acquired from Aakriti Art Gallery

Winning Bid US$.:   US$. 12,867 Rs. 656,216 (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)


Lot. No.:     3
Artist:           Jamini  Roy
Title:            Untitled
Medium:      Tempera on Board
Size:            14 X 10.5in.
Estimate:       US$ 5,882 - 6,863 (Rs. 300,000 - 350,000)
This lot is a National Art Treasure - Non Exportable Item
Provenance: From a private collector, originally acquired from Aakriti Art Gallery

Winning Bid US$.: US$. 10,546      Rs. 537,845 (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)

Lot. No.:           4
Artist:           F. N.  Souza
Title:            Untitled
Medium:       Watercolor on Paper
Year           1945
Size:            15.5 X 13in.
Estimate:      US$ 11,765 - 15,686 (Rs. 600,000 - 800,000)
Exhibited : Francis Newton Souza, Retrospective, Volte Face Souza’s iconoclastic vision, Lalit Kala Academy, Curated by - Yashodhara Dalmia, 2009
Published: Francis Newton Souza - by Vinod Bhardwaj. p 58

Winning Bid US$.:  21,092  Rs. 1,075,693 (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)   

Lot. No.:     5
Artist:           M. F.  Husain
Title:            Untitled (Woman)
Medium:       Watercolor & Gouache on paper
Year           1950's
Size:            15 x 10.25in.
Estimate:      US$ 7,843 - 9,804 (Rs. 400,000 - 500,000)
Provenance: Previously sold by Sotheby’s
Exhibited & Catalogued : Remembering The Master, works by M F Husain, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), 2011

Winning Bid US$.:  US$. 18,716         Rs. 954,497 ((inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)

Lot. No.:     6
Artist:           S. H.  Raza
Title:            Untitled
Medium:       Oil on Canvas
Year           1967
Size:            5.5 x 7in.
Estimate:        US$ 3,922 - 5,882 (Rs. 200,000 - 300,000)
Provenance: Private collection, Mumbai, Gifted by the Artist: to the present owner
Exhibited: S H Raza Retrospective, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), 2007

Winning Bid US$.:  US$. 7,734         Rs. 394,421 (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)

Lot. No.:     7
Artist:           F. N.  Souza
Title:            Untitled
Medium:       Pen & Ink on Paper
Year           1975
Size:            16 X 12in.
Estimate:      US$ 2,451 - 3,431 (Rs. 125,000 - 175,000)
Published: Francis Newton Souza - by Vinod Bhardwaj. p 206

Winning Bid US$.: US$. 3,995           Rs. 203,729 (inclusive of 15% Buyers Premium)


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