Nature as inspiration
NATURE AS IT IS: Ashish Kirtania's works shown at Lokayata art gallery in New Delhi.
Last time it was Prokash Karmakar, the veteran from the Bengal School of Art, who depicted Goddess Durga in nude and almost provocative moods, not quite conforming to this traditional art school.
This time young Ashish Kirtania from the same school portrays life not quite the way the products of this school do.
Ashish draws inspiration from nature and seems to be in love with sea scapes. His works, titled `Ananda' mounted at Lokayata at Hauz Khas Village (open till this coming Tuesday) are a representation of young generation taking up art in their own way. Ashish's forte lies in inks and pen and acrylic works.
The Santiniketan learning shows little in his works as far as forms and themes are concerned.
"Most students of Santiniketan are impressed by art history and books hence they take images from there. I take images from nature, everyday life and my imagination. Art history is just a part of it," says the young artist who has participated in many shows in Kolkata. This is his first show in Delhi. Ashish did try some abstract but "couldn't sustain it" as it would give him lesser satisfaction and people also "couldn't like them".
Kolkata, he says has many art galleries but there are a very few buyers.
Imitation works
So art students and other painters imitate images of the likes of Jogen Chowdhary and K.G. Subramanium to make quick bucks.
It is not easy to live there only as a painter. So most end up doing commercial works that includes murals, copy painting, etc. I also did a few murals," says the painter, honestly.
Ashish who emphasises that fake art should not be legalised in India, finds Delhi "quite aware about art and has many buyers" too.
RANA SIDDIQUI
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
