The Art Space

Fresco painting in India has a rich history, especially in the context of ancient and medieval art. While it might not be as widely recognized as in some other regions, India has several notable fresco examples. Ajanta and Ellora Caves : These UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra feature stunning frescoes dating back to the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE. The Ajanta Caves showcase elaborate paintings depicting the life of Buddha and various Jataka tales. The Ellora Caves also have some frescoes, albeit fewer in number compared to Ajanta, portraying Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain themes. Shekhawati Region : In Rajasthan, particularly in the Shekhawati region, fresco paintings adorn havelis (traditional ornate homes). These frescoes depict a variety of themes, including mythological stories, daily life scenes, and religious motifs. The town of Mandawa is known for its beautifully painted havelis showcasing this art form. Bundi Palace : The palace in Bundi, Rajasthan, is renowned ...

  Amrita Sher-Gil was a renowned Indian painter, often considered one of the most important Indian artists of the 20th century. Born in 1913 to a Sikh father and a Hungarian mother, Sher-Gil's artistic talent was evident from a young age. She studied art in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Grande Chaumière, where she was influenced by European art movements like Post-Impressionism. Sher-Gil's work is known for its unique blend of Western techniques with traditional Indian art styles. She painted mostly portraits and landscapes, capturing the essence of India and its people. Her art often depicted the lives of Indian villagers and reflected the socio-economic realities of the time. Tragically, Sher-Gil passed away at a young age of 28 in 1941, leaving behind a relatively small but impactful body of work that continues to influence and inspire artists to this day. Her legacy remains significant in the history of Indian art, celebrated for its richness, depth, and portray...

Sakti Burman is an Indian contemporary artist, he was born in Kolkata. A painter, sculptor and lithographer- Sakti Burman is one of the most celebrated Indian artist. He has brilliantly embraced the two different cultures in his art practice, Inspired by his unique world of fable, fantasy and myth. His paintings evoke a sense of a dreamlike look of a time encrusted fresco, while his sculptural works act as three dimensional transactions of his paintings. His works are inspired from myriad sources, ranging from the Ajanta caves to the paintings of the Italian Renaissance. Mythological narratives are like Noah’s ark. Birds, animals, gods and goddesses are often seen in his work including his family members of himself. His own memories and dreams also play a vital role in his works. He is known for his marbling technique it was an effect he developed after water split on his canvas causing the dispersal of oil; thereby creating a fresco –like dreamy feeling in his works.

 Expressionism is a modernist movement that emerged in early 20 th Century in Germany. It is an artistic style in which the artists seek to depict distorted imagery of reality in order to make it expressive of the artist’s emotions and visions.  Expressionists tries to achieve this by using distortion, exaggeration and primitive forms using vivid and dynamic application of colours. The brushwork is primarily free and paint application tends to be generous and highly textured. These techniques were used to convey serious emotional state of the artist reacting to the anxieties of the modern world.

  Born in Kapadwarj, Gujarat – Tyeb Mehta is one of the most well-known Indian artists of his generation. He briefly worked as a film editor and then joined Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai to study art and graduated in year 1952. Tyeb Mehta became a part of Bombay Progressive Artists Group. He was a strong film maker, His one and only film, Koodal was also a masterpiece of such montages, where he tries to project the same or similar images through a different medium. He won a National Award for the film. Bulls, Rickshaw pullers, Kali were some of the main subjects of his artworks. His work is characterized by matte surface, diagonal lines breaking his canvasses and images of anguish – a result of pre occupation with formalist means of expression. Use of flat planes of colour provided the canvasses an intense means of expression in his oeuvre of work. A transformation occurred in his painting style when he visited America, it was during his stay in America that Abstract Express...

“I do not feel at home anywhere, but the idea of home follows me everywhere”. Zarina Hashmi was an Indian American artist and printmaker. She received a degree in mathematics and was fascinated by architecture which reflects in her use of geometry and structural purity in her thoughts. A strong influence of her identity can be witnessed in all her works. Use of visual elements from Islamic religious geometrical features are the primary concept behind her art. Amalgamating her religious identity with her sense of symmetry, Zarina had created a niche for herself in the world of art. Her keen interest in Geography and city layouts is the crux behind her art practice. A lot of her works show aerial views of cities. Zarina Hashmi’s work challenges familiar locations like ‘Country’ the ways in which they are bordered, delineated and trans versed, and feelings and memories that they evoke in us. Her minimalist prints use these locations to construct new geographies, imbibing them with f...