The Art Space

Surrealism emerged as one of the most popular movement in visual art and literature. The movement was founded by the port Andre Breton in Paris in 1924. The term ‘ Surrealist’ suggesting ‘beyond reality’ was coined by the French avant-garde poet ‘Guilaume Apollinaire’ in the preface to a play performed in 1917. The intent of surrealism was to liberate thought, language and human experience from the oppressive boundaries of rationalism. During 1920s, Visual artists continued exploring surrealist concepts in art, obtaining complete creative freedom. The artists of that time experimented with a new mode of expression called- automatic writing or automatism, which sought to release the unbridled imagination of the subconscious. Since its inception, the ideas and art associated with Surrealism have been disseminated, embraced and re-imagined through international networks of exchange and collaboration. Surrealism's core ideas and themes have been adapted and deemed relevant to diffe...

"I paint self portraits because I am so often alone, I am the person I know best".  Widely known for her passion, pain and self portraits Frida Kahlo is one of the most celebrated artists of Mexico. Kahlo had a troubled childhood, as a child she suffered from Polio that left her with a slight limp. In another incident, Frida Kahlo nearly died in a bus accident as a teenager. She suffered multiple fractures of her spine, collarbone, ribs, a shattered pelvis, broken foot and dislocated shoulder. In her lifetime, the artist had 30 operations. During her recovery period, Kahlo began to focus heavily on painting. She created almost 200 paintings in her lifetime. The primary subjects of her paintings were still life and portraits of herself, family and friends. In meticulously executed paintings, Kahlo portrayed herself again and again. She created the first self portrait in year 1926, where she can be seen wearing a velvet dress. It was painted in the style of the 19th century...

Land Art or Earth Art is an Art Movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. The origins of the movement are majorly associated with Great Britain and the United States of America. The term ‘Land Art’ means a piece of art created directly in the landscape using the natural materials such as rocks, stones, twigs, leaves etc. Some artists use mechanical earth moving equipment to make their art pieces while some use site specific temporary intervention in the landscapes. The works usually exist in the open, located well away from civilization left to change and erode under natural conditions. Artists creating the installations usually document their works, step by step process using photographs, videos, films, documentaries and maps to exhibit in the galleries or the museums. The concept behind the birth of land art was to build an alternative mode of artistic expression and ways to remove art from the commercial system. The pioneer artists behind the emergence of the Earth Art / L...

‘Impressionism’ is an art movement that emerged in France in the 19th Century. The founding impressionist artists were Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley and others. The entire concept of the movement was to capture the accurate depiction of the natural light and shadow. Impressionist artists preferred to paint outdoors instead of their studios. The key characterization included visible and small brushstrokes, impersonating the subject in its true light. Their subjects significantly comprised of the landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Impressionist painters could not afford to wait for France to accept their work, so they established their own exhibition—apart from the annual salon organized by the Académie. During the latter part of 1873, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley organized the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs (“Cooperative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers”) to exhibit their artworks independentl...

Finding the right frame for your artwork is a crucial step once you choose the piece of art that you love. Framing is an art in itself and choosing the right frame can enhance the complete look of the painting. After investing a considerable amount of time and money into finding that perfect art piece one cannot go wrong with the frame.  A frame can either enhance the artwork or become a distraction. Hence, Here are a few steps on how to choose the right frame for your artwork:  Material and Medium - Know your medium Material of the frame and medium of the artwork are two deciding factors in choosing the correct frame. Frames are available in many varieties and the choices are endless hence a buyer must understand how to find the perfect balance. Every artwork is different therefore its framing requirements will vary too. Prints or paper works will require a different style of framing than oil or acrylic paintings. Colors - It is all about the right colors  It is importan...

Ceramic Art has existed for around 25,000 years. The word Ceramic comes from a Greek word ‘Keramos’- Potter’s earth, a clay-based product usually divided into pottery such as earthenware, stoneware and faience and porcelain.  The art that was once considered to be significant only for decorative purposes is now taking a centre stage in the world of contemporary art.  The production or creation of art objects such as figures, tiles and other decorative items using clay comes under the category of ‘Ceramic art’.  Clay has been used to create a wide variety of objects – cookware, worship idols, etc and its origin in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization between 2500-1500 B.C. The process of creating ceramics has been constantly changing and different styles have emerged over the period of time. Pottery is the most common form of ceramic art and is often associated with indigenous cultures representing local traditions and their patterns.   Ceram...

A prolific genius of colour and craft, Akbar Padamsee was one of the most versatile artists of the Modern Age. Best known for his paintings Padamsee was also a brilliant photographer, sculptor, filmmaker and lithographer. Padamsee was born on 12th April, 1928. Hailing from a privileged family he always had a strong inclination towards art.  Akbar Padamsee was born on 12th April, 1928. He always had a strong fondness towards art. He is considered to be one of the pioneers in Modern Indian painting along with his contemporaries like S.H. Raza, F. N. Souza, M.F. Husain. He later on became involved with the Progressive Artist’s Group (PAG) in Bombay, which was formed in 1947 by F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain. Though he was not a formal member of the group, he was the youngest associate of the PAG. His free spirit and progressive approach allowed him to experiment with a variety of mediums, from Oil paintings to watercolours, sculpture, printmaking to photography. The artist was ver...