Modern Art & India

Human is searching self. He has never been satisfied with present. He insists exploration and modernization. And surely an art is not out of his exploring globe!! This article is an effort to pick up some lying sticks of modern art. Further it hooks up pieces of Indian modern art.

Well today an artist is trying to express a lot with least. Probably that’s why today’s artist is in high spirits of using abstraction deducing every component of art, form and color.
"The intention is to conjure up an intellectual, psychological and mental image rather than simply visual image" explains Amita, Artist, Ami Fine Arts.

The requirement of modern art is nothing but complete freedom. Aspire from heritage yet feel free in creation. The great Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci said, "Painting is poetry that is seen." Poetry is nothing but pure emotion. Similarly painting intertwines emotions and expression. The modern art is a step towards knitting feelings, sentiments, sensation and passions. That means the way any reader interrelates self with poetry while reading it, the observer involves self in artist’s work in modern art.

Explaining Indian Art, Mira Art And Painting.Net says "Indian art is realized from nature. If you analyze Indian sculptures and paintings, you feel glad to find unseen nature into it. For example, ‘Eyebrows were drawn akin to the ‘two leaves and a bud’ or ‘Woman’s hip remind you of an elephant’s trunk’ or ‘Man’s nose is similar to beak of parrot’ or ‘leaps are nothing but flower’s petal’ or ‘eyes take the curve of fish’. You will certainly notice many more natural curves in creation of Indian art."

The caves of Ajanta are scattered parts Indian art treasure. The emphasis was on character, spiritual message, denoting supreme beings, culture & living styles and of course the presence of romance. The caves paintings present a absolute expression, a reflection of views, beliefs and ethics of Buddhist holiness surrounded by nature. It envisions living world. The earth bejeweled in nature’s form with the springing flora & fauna - the birds, the deer, the elephants. It also represents living style and urbanization - the crimson pillared pavilions and porches, the arches, gateways and roof tops of cities in consonance with life of men, women and children. Further Buddhist artist represented real human life offerings including youth, beauty, passion, love, emotion, pity and idealism. Truly an artist in process of contemplation is capable of translating formless into to form.

Indian art movements have been influenced by many rulers’ own art styles for example Mughal and Rajput styles. The modern art era in India was started by the revivalists. The Revivalists revived India’s past by making Hinduism & Buddhism legends, stories & tales favorite in paintings. Their paintings were representation of episodes of Sanskrit plays of Kalidasa, scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Revivalist includes great Raja Ravi Verma (known for his Indian mythological scenes and rural life presentation), Abanindranath Tagore (known for bringing back spiritual past of India), Vivekananda (revived thoughts of Vedic philosophy) and Ananda Coomaraswamy (revived fundamental concepts of Indian art) in forms of art. Revivalist claimed, "Art is uglier when you stand between two styles, not knowing depths of either." Abanindranath’s art style – ‘expression without a parallel’ had been continued by Rabindra Nath Tagore portraying inhuman, fantastic shapes, goblins & landscapes in harmony and balance. Amrita Sher-Gil studied Western and Indian art styles and came out with her own manifestation. She bridged Indian and European art by painting in oils a solemn appeal and native sadness. She said "On first glance many paintings may not seem Indian but in the true sense of the term, their heart is very much Indian."

The modern art era in India has seen many reforms from various known artists. Abstract form style has been continuously renewed by Jamini Roy, Amrita SherGil, Sailoz Mukherjea and finally Hussain. Husain’s art is both humane and expressive. It puts into words message of eternal being.

Art is nothing but depiction of Society. Artists come from Society only and portray nothing but something which is around them. Society is a great influencer in encouraging or discouraging artist’s creativity and thoughts. Experiments go on and on and modern age gives birth to modern art.