Art adventures India: 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Fun at the fair!

Pushkar Camel Fair highlights include: Baby camels, beautiful horses, snake charmers, camel haircuts, camel bling (have bought heaps), sword shops, handmade utensils (great to watch construction), performing monkeys (not so PC), strange sport maybe tag? (but then I'm not a sports fan as you know), bought a new spirograph (very retro) and bubble maker (bubbles that last for hours - probably I'm breathing in poison as I do it), heaps of sadhus, beautiful clothes (as always very bright).

Lots to buy

Lots to eat

Too much to choose from!

Please come for a ride!

Inviting and fresh!

Camel bling - which would suit her?

Dressed up for the fair

Everything is colourful

Guess who?

Out-of-towners!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Taj Mahal and the last days

We float around the white and lacy tomb in the misty hours after dawn fascinated by its form, intricate Islamic inlay and vast dimensions. Our last dramatic drive back into Delhi confronts us with more lack of road rules and use of lanes, but as usual, the amazing and calm Manoj, our driver, gets us home safely. Everyone quickly dumps their bags for one last opportunity at the Delhi shop of Fabindia - as if our luggage wasn't over the limit anyway with the delights of Rajasthan. Farewells are not so bad as strong bonds between all the art adventurers will develop with virtual and real art and cooking get togethers back home.

Chai stop

Steps to Fatepur Sikri

Fatepur Sikri

My guide - fluent English, doesn't attend school as he makes too much money as a guide

Stunning!

Inside a tuk tuk

Karen and Katy and the Taj at dawn

Intricate inlay

Jaipur

Janta Manta is the highlight here with its amazing forms and intriguing mix of science and technology. These astronomical devices of many centuries past, could also be large sculptures or installations. Amber Fort amazes!The girls discover 'Fabindia' and we spend hours trying on EuroIndia outfits and assisting male shoppers in choosing their outfits.

At the petrol station (on a bike)

Learning printing from an expert

Enough colour?

Other tourists at Amber Fort, Jaipur

Very cute!

Janta Manta

Jantar Manta

Learning Hindi script is thirsty work!

Always eating!

Fast food

Contemporary workshops

Three workshops with contemporary Rajasthani artists have shown us a different side of India and given us an outlet for our responses to our experiences.Akash delves inside to create fine line drawings that are humourous and poignant. They cover the undulating surfaces of white fibreglass forms that emphasise the ideas of journey, change and development. His deep brown eyes indicate his commitment to his serious ideas and enjoyment of the lighter sides of life, as he explains his work to us in his studio shared with three generations of artists. The art adventurers create their own journeys with pen and paper. Akash demonstrates his use of clay and fibreglass which gives me ideas for future projects back home. His digital works amaze and entice me.
The next workshop with Madan exposes us to extremely different paintings and prints and we are fortunate to get a sneak preview of his forthcoming exhibition. His small studio is home to a printing press, library and research of traditional village painting for a Phd. The research has influenced his work and he explained the development from expressive paint application to a strong use of delicate meditative symbols and a use of a variety of golds and silvers still based on nature. Insight into his process and meaning inspires us to create our own work with intermittent visits by two artist friends.
After showing and describing his work, the third artist, Surendra, paints alongside of us for the day with an intriguing use of stencils, stamps and masking tape. His influence of adding texture and dividing the canvas resulted in the best works by the group as they also incorporate thoughts from the other workshops (both traditional and contemporary as well as my own) along with photos and sketches.