Why trained administrators are vital for arts to flourish

There is a fast disappearing art form of storytelling in Rajasthan that has a large painted canvas called a phad in the local dialect with folk paintings, almost like a stylised cartoon strip that rec

23 Jun 2016 12:28 AM

The beauty of abstract imagery

Among the things I can immodestly claim to have pioneered were two arts portals Pioneerarts.com and Enkitaarts.com.

16 Jun 2016 2:23 AM

An eclectic group of masters come for a cause

I have a wonderful memory of having met Nargis Dutt, the actress way back in 1980, when I was a sub reporter in the Indian Express and she made that classic statement about Satyajit Ray — “Ray is afte

09 Jun 2016 2:46 AM

Sartorial grace of performers

Last week I had spoken about the very personal style of dressing of artists that sets them apart and I got loads of phone calls agreeing and disagreeing and trying to identify the artists who sported

02 Jun 2016 6:27 AM

Sartorial styles of artists

One of the most hilarious statements I have ever encountered in my life has to be: “Can you teach me how to dress like an artist ” I looked at the person who had made this rather curious statement in

26 May 2016 5:26 AM

The danger of relegating craft to second-grade activity

At a recent festival organised by Kathak danseuse Shovana Narayan, she attempted to approach the arts from multi dimensions that incorporated dance, dance-theatre, sahitya, and the visual arts.

19 May 2016 2:44 AM

The importance of worthy criticism

It is my conviction that for any art to hold its own, it is crucial to have its sahitya or textual content.

12 May 2016 2:43 AM

Talking saris: Quirks, comfort, importance & memories

I make no bones about my unabashed admiration for handloom weavers, handblock printers and craftspersons.

05 May 2016 3:17 AM

If there are not enough museums, how will culture develop

The fire that gutted the Museum of Natural History on Tuesday in New Delhi dashed many hopes of parents and children whom it was targeted at and who were unable to see it when it was still there or wa

28 Apr 2016 6:00 AM

The dreamy, lyrical quality of black and white images

I have long-standing ishq with black and white photography especially when it comes to capturing personalities.

21 Apr 2016 3:24 AM

Young sculptors are using experimental, exploratory approach

I find myself getting increasingly drawn to sculpture as an idiom and find its language fascinating.

14 Apr 2016 3:09 AM

Portrait master Vamanrao Pandit on the verge of being rediscovered

I am very drawn to portraits and caricatures as interesting genres of art and capturing the “real” person that lives within.

07 Apr 2016 4:51 AM

The zen of Buddha artworks

31 Mar 2016 2:32 AM

Phagun ke din chaar, Hori khel manalo

24 Mar 2016 7:06 AM

Weaving together works of wonder

The small-sized invite in hues of indigo was enticing. I put it away with the bunch of invites where I intend to go.

17 Mar 2016 1:46 AM

Myriad colours and eternal emotion of spring

Painting is often a cathartic experience for someone intensely involved in the artistic journey that manifests itself on canvas.

10 Mar 2016 12:24 AM

Bringing curatorial practice a bad name

I am fed up of the use and abuse of the word ‘curator’ in the current context where it is bandied about for anything from food to “designer” clothes (mostly by bored housewives from garages) to jewell

02 Mar 2016 11:50 PM

Maintaining sanctity of aesthetics in a space

25 Feb 2016 9:19 AM

Delhi’s galleries and visual art spaces

A chance social media comment by a culture impresario about the fantabulous facilities available in the famed London left bank set off a train of thought in my mind.

18 Feb 2016 6:53 AM

How to say goodbye to your best buddy

What can you say when you lose your best buddy — that the void will never ever be filled for none has walked that path with you or been a witness to your life — as much as you have been to his

11 Feb 2016 6:44 AM