Category: India

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Biographies India Modern

Art and Independence: YG Srimati and the Indian Style by John Guy

We are actually growing very tired of non Indian writers claiming authoritative position on Indian art, history, religions, society and so on and so forth. However, this book is quite different. John Guy aims to correct the legacy of YG Smriti, a somewhat controversial figure in the Indian art scene during the mid last century. Read on…

• Offers a historical corrective to re-establish the legacy of YG Srimati, one of modern India’s finest artists

• At a time when there is renewed interest in the voices and works of women artists, this volume takes us through the life and genius of one such artist from India

• This volume offers an insight into the way that styles and trends influence the art world, with artists falling out of favor for complex reasons that have nothing to do with talent

• Beautifully illustrated with nearly 130 images

The career of Y.G. Srimati – classical singer, musician, dancer and painter – represents a continuum in which each of these skills and experiences merged, influencing and pollinating each other.

Born in Mysore in 1926, Srimati was part of the generation much influenced by the rediscovery of a classical Sanskrit legacy devoted to the visual arts. Soon swept up in the nationalist movement for an independent India, she was deeply moved by the time she spent with Mahatma Gandhi. For the young Srimati, the explicit referencing of the past and of religious subjects came together in an unparalleled way, driven by the conscious striving for an indigenous agenda. This experience gave form and meaning to her art, and largely defined her style.

As John Guy demonstrates in this sumptuous volume, as a painter of the mid and late twentieth century, Y.G. Srimati embodied a traditionalist position, steadfast in her vision of an Indian style, one which resonated with those who knew India best.

From the book description

If for nothing else, you should buy this book for the wonderful 130 illustrations and the excellent compilation. We will not comment on the writer’s opinions and leave that work to the reader – you! Widely available at leading book stores.

Categories
Ancient India Museums

Art and Archaeology of Ancient India: Earliest Times to the Sixth Century by Naman P. Ahuja

Wishing all our readers Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This month we bring to you a topic that is very close to us – Art in Ancient India. For those who know India also know about the wonderful art of Ancient India – be it through sculptures, statues, cave paintings, or other archaeological finds. This fascinating book from Naman P. Ahuja pulls all these resources together to create an engrossing volume on the subject. Read on…

• This book covers all early Indian objects (pre-600 AD) held by the Department of Eastern Art in the Ashmolean Museum • Contains previously unpublished material • New photography for all objectsThe Ashmolean Museum is fortunate in having the most comprehensive British collection of the art of the Indian subcontinent outside London. Especially strong in sculpture, this rich representation of Indian art from prehistory to the twentieth century has come about through the generosity of our benefactors over more than three centuries. The Museum’s first major Indian sculpture acquisition, a stone Pala-style Vishnu image of the eleventh century, was given in 1686 by Sir William Hedges, a governor of the East India Company in Bengal. From the late nineteenth century, a substantial core of the present collection was assembled at the University’s former Indian Institute Museum (1897-1962), precursor of the Department of Eastern Art, which opened within the Ashmolean in 1963. Since that date many more Indian objects of all periods have been acquired by gift, bequest or purchase.

From the book description

If you are still looking for a new year gift for yourselves or for someone else, this book will be an excellent purchase. Widely available now. Get your copy today.

Categories
Culture India Religious

In the Shadow of the Devi KUMAON: Of A Land, A People, A Craft by Manju Kak

This month we bring to you an excellent book about one of the most revered places for Hindus. While we have no authority or intention to write about religious topics, what we would like to share is that this book is an excellent work of art to pull together so many aspects of culture. Read on…

A one-of-a-kind book which examines in great detail all aspects of life in Kumaon – from ethnography to the environment, and the history, crafts and architecture that characterize the area

Richly illustrated, this book features photographs by renowned Kumaoni photographer Anup Sah, among others; it also includes illustrations & sketches

Meticulously researched over an extended period of time, this book is both informative and accessible, to laypeople interested in the region as well as academics.

The untamed beauty of the Himalayas immediately captures our collective imagination with visions of serenity, natural splendor and mysticism. But these mountains also dictate the lives of those who live by its laws – the resilient hill dwellers, or paharis, whose work and lives are shaped by their surroundings.

In the Shadow of the Devi: Kumaon details the legacy of a land, a people and a craft deeply intertwined with its environment. Manju Kak looks at this enigmatic land of Kumaon through the prism of woodcraft, unique in its aesthetic in this part of India, documenting the styles, influences and techniques used by the craftsmen of Uttarakhand, as well as Kumaoni artisans’ worldview and beliefs. In addition, this book is an important document of the life of paharis, as it also discusses communities, forest policy and the status of women, analyzing and unraveling facets of hill life that made Kumaon’s claim for statehood so unique.

The book is beautifully complemented with photographs by award-winning Kumaoni photographer Anup Sah, among others. It is also a visual delight for those who have an interest in the region. It adds to the existing knowledge on Uttarakhand, emblematic of other Indian hill states, though its focus is on Kumaon, the land that lies in the shadow of the majestic mountain Nanda Devi.

This is quite an informative book, full of images and bearing almost a transportational quality to it. Readers who like to learn about different cultures through images will certainly appreciate this book. Available at select stores now.

Categories
India Stone Carving

The Unfinished: The Stone Carvers at Work in the Indian Subcontinent by Vidya Dehejia, Peter Rockwell

For those of us in India, ancient rock sculptures as an art form is all around us. This month we bring to you a marvelous behind the scenes look at the work of stone carvers in an amazing new collection by Vidya Dahejia and Peter Rockwell.

The sheer number of unfinished stone monuments in India is staggering and examples appear at some of India’s most famous and well-studied sites that include rock-cut Ellora, Ajanta, and Mamallapuram. Unfinished work also appears on built temples celebrated for the intricacy of their sculpted decoration, such as those in Hoysala kingdom or in Orissa. This detailed study provides an overall coverage of India’s unfinished work while addressing a range of issues related to stone-carving by examining a select number of monuments at specific sites. Instead of focusing on a site in its entirety, the study here focuses on specific issues of consequence in the context of unfinished work, as they gain an added weight and significance through discovery of their repetitive occurrence at site after site.

At the heart of this book are the many varieties of unfinished stone carving that merit close observation to see what is there and what is not, and to appreciate that all the finished work has been through these various stages of being unfinished before reaching completion.

From the book description

While the book is a great coffee table companion, it is also a thought starter. It raises important questions about works, the technique and social context of stone carving communities. Now available at leading book stores.

Categories
Asia India Museums

Treasures Of Salarjung Museum by Dr. Shobita Punja

It is rare to see such a wonderful collection put together at home. We are delighted to introduce this great work of by Dr. Shobita Punja. Reader who’d like to understand Indian heritage better will greatly appreciate this curated collection of art.

This book highlights treasures of the Salar Jung Museum, showcasing the extraordinary personal collection of the Salar Jung family, presented under five themes. It includes Indian art, pan-Asian art, European art and many other rare and ancient treasures.

From the book description

This book is not widely available. Please contact us to check availability and prices.

Meanwhile, wishing all the readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016! We will meet again next month.

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