Author: Artion
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted a Dokra artwork, depicting musicians with studded stonework, to French President Emmanuel Macron and an exquisite silver hand-graved table mirror with floral and peacock motifs to the first lady of France. The Dokra art is a renowned metal-casting tradition from Chhattisgarh, showcasing intricate craftsmanship using the ancient lost-wax technique.Rooted in the region’s rich tribal heritage, this artwork depicts traditional musicians in dynamic poses, highlighting the cultural significance of music, the officials said.Source: Press Trust of India
Dark and light (From left to right) ‘Eye in the Sky’; Khambatta in his studio; ‘Metamorphosis’Arzan Khambatta has what he calls “fidgety hands”. For as long as he can remember, the renowned sculptor has doodled on notebooks and textbooks, right from his school days to even while attending phone calls. In 2011, when his mother fell ill and was in hospital, Khambatta would spend hours sketching pen-and-ink drawings as he and his siblings took turns to stay with her. All these years later, approximately 80 of his drawings are on display at Gallery Art & Soul in Mumbai as part…
Divya Hoskere performing at The Music Academy’s 2025 dance festival | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani.Divya Hoskere is a young Bharatanatyam dancer and academician. A disciple of P. Praveen Kumar, she is a PhD scholar at the School of Humanities at NIAS. Her broad area of research includes the study of the Natyashastra, Indian aesthetics and theatrical design.Her scholarship is evident in the neatness of adavus and their perfect timing. She is light on her feet contrasting it with an azhutham — groundedness that defines modern-day Bharatanatyam. In fact, some jathis in the ‘Rupamujuchi’ padavarnam (Todi, Adi, Ramaswamy Dikshitar) covered the…
New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali’s extensive collection of more than 200 of his original works is being exhibited in New Delhi’s Indian Habitat Centre, marking the maiden showcase of Dali’s works on Indian soil, The landmark event, that began on February 7, will continue till February 13 before moving to Masarrat Gallery starting from February 15 to March 16, Dali, profoundly influenced by psychoanalysis and dreamscapes, has been acclaimed through the years for the subconscious imagery in his iconic paintings like ‘melting clocks’ and ‘floating eyes’. The exhibition offers art connoisseurs a rare glimpse into…
For centuries, the social and political concept of gender has been a subject of intense debate, shaping movements and rights across the globe. Based on this pertinent issue, choreographers Chris Leuenberger and Marcel Schwald from Switzerland have embarked on an artistic journey that delves into the concepts of femininity, hyper-femininity and effeminacy through their documentary dance performances.Their latest piece, EF_FEMININITY – Trio Version, supported by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia,will be showcased across India in Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. In India, where gender identities beyond the binary have a far-reaching history, they got in touch with Shilok…
Visitors at the India Art Fair (Source: India Art Fair)The India Art Fair (IAF) has brought together 120 exhibitors in a showcase that spans centuries of Indian art while embracing contemporary global voices and catering to a diverse range of interests. Walk into the India Art Fair and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with giants. This year’s fair opens with an architectural statement –– a facade designed by Ayesha Singh based on her ongoing research on women’s contribution to Indian architecture, setting the tone for the event. Dance of the modern masters From M F Husain to S H Raza, A…
Divya Goswami performing at The Music Academy’s dance festival | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani.Kathak dancer Divya Goswami’s themed show ‘Aqeedat’ (meaning faith) was a tribute to love through the 18th century Punjabi poet Fazal Shah’s kissas. It was a poetic coming together of beautiful music by Praveen D. Rao and poignant Kathak. Divya combined the precision of Kathak beats, its grace and lyrical fluidity in the retelling of the age-old romance between Sohni and Mahiwal (the popular Punjabi love story).The curtain opened to Divya seated on stage, “Love..love..love.. What is love? Some say love is a river that drowns the…
Rama Vaidyanathan commenced the evening with Swaroopa, an evocative presentation based on select verses from Tirumular’s Tirumandiram. These verses celebrate the omnipresence of the divine, urging one to seek and experience Him in even the most subtle forms of creation. The divine was depicted as eternal—neither born nor destroyed, but ever-present and unchanging. It was up to each individual to recognise His swaroopa in all of creation. The musical composition by S. Vasudevan beautifully complemented the complex yet seamless choreography of Rama’s signature metaphors and fluid style.The second piece was a varnam in Ananda Bhairavi raga, Swamine Rammanave, a composition…
Untitled (The Effect of the Moon)’ by Devyani KrishnaCubism, pioneered by greats like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century, challenged conventional perspectives through its exploration of abstraction and multiple perspectives. Initially, Cubist art was rejected by many for its confusing methodology. Eventually, it influenced the trajectory of artistic expression across the world, including India—evolving into a new visual language to represent reality. A new exhibition at DAG Delhi, Deconstructed Realms: India’s Tryst with Cubism, offers a window into this brief encounter between India and Cubism.Source: India Today
Majestic Retelling of ‘Thadathagai’ – The Eternal Queen of MaduraiA jati accompanied with gaits of elephants marched on stage to begin the production ‘Thadathagai’ – The Eternal queen of Madurai. The extensive use of vachika abhinaya between scenes was particularly effective in conveying elements of the story that could not be depicted visually, providing valuable insights into the ancient Kadambavanam.The story traced Thadathagai’s origins as the daughter of Queen Kanchanamalai and Pandya Raja Malayadwajan. The opening scene, where a young Thadathagai emerged from the yagna kunda, was visually striking depiction. Born with three breasts and foretold to lose one upon…