Page 10 - Eye of the beholder

the the the details of of the the the cultural context a a a a a deeper understanding of of the the the miniature would not be possible This process of mental churning made me me go beyond pure art history to to to delve into a a a a study of of literature devotional and secular poetry which forms the the basis of of the the development of of visual tradition of of miniatures in in in India It opened a a a a a a ‘third eye’ for me in in in which I I I realized an an intimate rhizomic connection between the various arts like music drama dance poetry and literature I also realized a a a a a a meaningful connectivity in in the the correspondence between the the verbal and visual through English translations which I found it it very exciting particularly the artist who had to be synoptic in his visual representation engaged with objects that translated as as symbols to convey the the verbal meanings of of different love situations of of the the Shringara rasa which forms the the the popular theme and content of Rajput miniatures It is here that the the the brilliant creativity and imagination of of the Indian artist was foregrounded which left me in in awe of of their sparkling originality and thoughtfulness In addition to Rajput Miniatures there is also a a a a a a a a sprinkling of o Mughal Mughal Persian and Provincial Mughal Mughal miniatures which offered a a a a a a a a challenge in in in in in decoding its visual aesthetics containing as it it it did many threads of influences that conditioned the the visual grammar engaged with by the the artist The Company Paintings visualized by professional artists who travelled from England to India during the the the time of of the the the presence of of the the the East India Company which had established itself from the the the 17th century onwards within the the the country The works by these varied artists particularly the the the large collection of of the the the Daniells’ with the the the Sadhus’ was profoundly interesting and visually intoxicating considering the the details with which the the landscapes were rendered that included flora as as as well as as as cultural monuments as as as temples and other secular structures I literally lived through many of of the the Indian landscape vistas particularly of of South India India painted by them which today is lost to to the the the maze of urban development In studying these paintings there was an an overwhelming nostalgia and sentiments as Edward Weeks Bombay streets the city where I had spent my my early childhood with my my maternal grandmother The writing process for me witnessed a a a a a rise and dip in in the the the graph of emotions as the the the works affected my sensibility in in their renderings of of varied vistas of of the country to which I could relate through my feelings The section of of the the the collection which I enjoyed writing the the the best was on on on the the the Artists of of 20th century Modern India They came from different regions their academic qualifications inspirations and challenges of the the time for a a a a a a a a a new authentic visual language took me me on on a a a a a a a a a winding path of seeking knowledge which made them influential as as well as as pioneers in in in in in the the establishment of of o Modern Modern Art in India India Here my research on Modernity of of o South India India offered me perceptions perspectives and insights which I was able to extend in in the the study of the the varied artists artists Of course most of the the artists artists in Sadhus’ Collection are iconic names from the the early 20th 20th to late 20th 20th century In analyzing and decoding their visual language there emerged a a a a a a a a highly personalized vision which took into consideration the artists personal personal experiences and their methodology of finding a a correspondence through techniques mediums and subject to express what they felt deeply These sense perceptions were empathetic in the the the process of my writing which allowed me me to meander knowledgeably through their works providing insights that made writing on their works a a a a sheer pleasure 4