New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANSlife) Having gone virtual for many of their exhibitions and art-based interactions, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in the national capital has now reopened for visitors, who seem only too happy to be reconnecting with Indian master artists after months of the gallery being closed.

Notably, all museums, art galleries and exhibitions under the Ministry of Culture were closed to the public on March 17, ahead of the COVID-induced lockdown. They reopened on November 10 according to standard operating procedures and guidelines issued by the Ministry.

As per IANS life’s conversation with Adwaita Gadanayak, the director-general of NGMA, virtual is a medium that helped NGMA cast the net far and wide. Art Adda, their art-based interactive monthly meeting platform for art lovers and artists, went virtual with the lockdown.

“Even in the lockdown, we we experimenting with going digital. Art adds colour to life, and is extremely important to stay connected to. In our virtual ‘art addas’, we saw that we can connect to national and international artists also, not just those in Delhi. It is easier to connect virtually,” Gadanayak said over phone.

The gallery, located at a stone’s throw from Delhi’s tourist hotspot India Gate, has a vast permanent collection of Indian modern and contemporary art, saw close to 300-400 visitors every day, before COVID-19, said the official. On the first day after the reopening, the figure plummeted to 150, and even more on the second day, he informed, adding that it is mostly the young generation coming out and the real numbers will be known after the festivities.

How quick will be the recovery? “We are exercising all precautions and ensuring safety. Hopefully, we should be back to normal numbers soon. It seems like people are afraid of stepping out now,” said Gadanayak.

A successful artist himself, and the mind behind the National Police Memorial in the national capital, Gadanayak, says that it is frustrating and stressful for artists to not venture out into the real world for inspiration and fresh ideas.

“Due to the COVID-induced lockdown, artists could only stay in their studios. Artists interacting with the society keeps it lively and motivating. As NGMA, we try to connect to all Delhi-based and far-off artists to hear about their art and plans,” he shared.

NGMA in Mumbai and Bengaluru have also opened up, and are yet to see a decent number of visitors, said the NGMA DG. Last year, the massive retrospective exhibition held on artist Upendra Maharathi has traveled from Delhi to Bengaluru.

Gadanayak also spoke about some structural changes NGMA could start working on, soon. “People try to connect with the art, they try to come close to it and click selfies. We want that art must be given the respect it deserves. Abroad, masterpieces like da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ are highlighted like a diamond. There are many layers of security and a different style of display.

“Here, we have such great artists like Raja Ravi Verma, Nandalal Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, M.F. Husain, Amrita Sher-gill and more. We want to display them properly. When we give them respect, the public will also respect them like that,” he signed off.

Source:https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=772295

The post Frustrating for artists to not interact with society: NGMA’s Adwaita Gadanayak first appeared on Indian Art News.

Coming from the gallery’s in-house collection which was in the reserve for about a year and a half, the works represent few milestones in the art landscape from the post-freedom era. On view are around 60 works, including paintings, sculptures and prints.

“The exodus of artistic fervour and vision from rural to urban spaces that started after the Independence of our nation in 1947, brought in a new lease of life to the artistic creations. The deep rooted sentiments of the soil mixed with the fresh wave of ideas led to the germination of new visions of portraying the struggles and aspirations of a newly formed nation and its people.

“This is the time which witnessed the formation of various artist collectives named after the urban centre of their origin. These centres represented by their artists produced an artistic language that was a synthesis of traditional Indian art with the international artistic trends such as impressionism and expressionism,” the NGMA said.

The monumental canvas on display, titled ‘Zamin’ by artist M.F. Husain portrays the relationship of the famer with the soil he tills, in an abstract and angular style which will formulate his signature way of expression in his future works.

The triptych popularly called ‘Shantiniketan’ by Tyeb Mehta, also takes a folk event of sacrifice that took place during his stay in Shantiniketan, to form his own allegory of life.

The emancipation of women was always central theme of many women artists of this period, a voice that became stronger than ever before. It all started from an echo which can be traced back to the paintings of Amrita Sher-Gil, where the melancholy of the indecisiveness about the near future reflected in the eyes of the women that took centre stage on her canvases could be seen.

Now, the woman from this submissive and tragic victim portrayed in many artworks, is elevated and celebrated as a supreme power, reflected in the works of Arpana Caur and Anjolie Ela Menon. Arpana Caur is one of the first artists, who collaborated with indigenous folk artisans of Warli to successfully transform her visions into her paintings.

With a different approach, sculptor Latika Katt, uses a traditional imagery of the burnt remains of a funeral pyre, titled, ‘Arthi’, to evoke the feeling of ‘memento mori’ inside the viewer.

Abstraction was also a major form of expression adopted by many artists. The exhibition also highlights this form of expression through the pin-point textures of Zarina Hashmi and the high relief metal sculpture of Himmat Shah.

The evolution of art in the 1990’s in India, took a new road map with artists experimenting with newer materials often mixing different mediums, further blurring the boundaries between sculpture, painting, design and performing arts.

In the works of Jitish Kallat and Subodh Gupta, one sees their experiences through their themes and metaphors which can be identified and related to universally.

The exhibition has been put up in the basement area of the permanent display section in NGMA’s New Wing.

By Siddhi Jain
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=675957

The post New NGMA show a glimpse into post-freedom India first appeared on Indian Art News.