Divine strokes

A bit of art and stardust charm the city

Rewati Rau

Being fashionably late is not news when it comes to flimstars, and the inanuguration of the art exhibition Devotion, was no exception as Pardes giri Mahima chaudhary kept the artists and guests waiting at the India Habijat Centre on Friday evening. The event organized by the gallery, Art Positive. Saw the participating artists getting Mahima of course charmed the guests with an apology. Which was followed by the ceremonial lighting of the inaugural lamp.
“Beling an artiste myself, I appreciate good art,” said Mahima who was tempted to buy some of the works. “Even though these paintings come with a price tag, they are all priceless, I plan to pick the one that fits my budget,” she added.
Devotion was the second annual show of the gallery. “It is an encompassing theme where the artists have interpreted their own visions of devotion.” Said gallery owner Anu Bajaj.
Explaining his version of the theme, artist Gopi Gajwani said, “It is difficult to depict devotion. One does not necessarily have to draw a figure to show it.” As for artist Manish Pushkale. “One cannot paint without devotion, as good work is a combination of both devotion and emotion.”
The participating artists included Manish Pushkale, Nupur and Subrata Kundu, Gopi Gajwani, Pooja Bahri, Laila Rajpal, Amitesh Verma and Somnath C Banerjee.

Art frat has a brush with devotion

NIDHI SETHI

Devotion ’06, an exhibition organized by Gallery Art Positive at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, on Friday proved to be a delight for art enthusiasts. Bollywood actor Mahima Chaudhary inaugurated one of theseason’s biggest art shows that showcased paintings by more than 40 artists.
The exhibition featured works of leading artists like Gopi Gajwani, somnath C. Banerjee, Amitesh Verma, Shruti Chandra Gupta and Laila Khan Rajpal to name a few, Dressed in a chiffon sari Anu Bajaj of Gallery Art Positive explained the theme “Devotion” to be a very positive entity. “Devotion, if we are true to ourselves, touches every aspect of our lives,” says Anu, According to her, the USP of the show is the presence of young artists and also the considerably low prices of the paintings.
Artist Amitesh Verma says, “Devotion is selfess love for me. I strongly believe in God and if we don’t love each other we won’t be able to love God in the true sense.” He has used horses in his painting to convey his message because of the innocence they possess. But for artist Shruti Chandra Gupta, who happens to be a professional Kathak dancer, devotion need not be a spiritual thing. For her, it is an intense feeling and passion toward art. Her painting is proof of her belief. “The observer in my painting is looking at the world to know what the world is upto.” She says.
Laila Rajpal, who came to the exhibition quite late, said that the woman in her painting is featured as a pure yet seductive form, “Purity is the form of devotion and painting for me is the devotional path of self-disovery.” She explaints.

The exhibition will be on till October 10

 (Above) Anu Bajaj with artist Kanchan Chander; (above right) Rajive Bajaj with Mahima Chaudhary’ (right) Laila Rajpal Khan and Tanisha Mohan