Abirpothi

Artist Profile

Weaving the tapestry of a rich legacy with artist Rajen – Textile Series 3

  Even in his eighties, in the last few years before the pandemic struck, Rajen Chaudhari — known by the simple moniker of Rajen through most of his artistic life — was enthusiastically weaving in his workshop, tucked away near Raipur Darwaja in the heart of Ahmedabad. His hands thrummed with energy and belied his […]

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“Each stitched line is a conversation between my hand and brain,” says Pranati Panda – Textile Series 2

Pranati Panda’s first textile experience was as a child learning to knit and sew from her mother. She has always had a need to do something with her hands, something tactile, and working with textile and stitching is a process of mark-making of the progression of time, she believes. “Hand-stitching is a time-based medium and

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Chandrashekhar Bheda unravels the fascinating world of textile murals | Textile Series 1

Chandrashekhar Bheda studied textile design (Dyeing and Printing) at Sir JJ School of Art. Next, he completed his post graduation from the National Institute of Design Ahmedabad in Industrial Design with a specialization in Textiles in 1988. Abir Pothi reports how such a large potential stored in textile materials has kept him excited throughout his

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“I am interested in surprises from my art,” says Manjunath Kamath, a man of many mediums

Skilled facility with diverse media, multiple cultural references, traditional iconography, fragmented imageries, an often humorous visual vocabulary, and constantly reinvented modes of storytelling are the hallmark of noted artist and sculptor Manjunath Kamath’s works. In this Abir Pothi exclusive, he shares his journey with Gauri Gharpure Temple sculptures and paintings, churches, and Jain temples were

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\’My art is eclectic and so is my life — and both imitate one another!\’ says Brinda Miller

Abir Pothi catches up with artist, honorary chairperson Kala Ghoda Festival and former Abir First Take eminent jury member, Brinda Miller, to discuss art in the pandemic, architecture in art, and advice for contemporary artists. Twenty years after it first began, one of the most well-known annual celebrations of art in the country went wholly

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Channeling childhood trauma, Gujarat-based Jayesh Shrimali is creating art with burnt memories

  The first works of many artists carry a significant hangover of their past. Autobiographical, they unapologetically serve as personal essays that unburden haunting memories. In some cases, these personal accounts resonate with the quality of the output and Jayesh Srimali’s journey is just as descriptively transferred into his artwork. Despite being deeply personal, the

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An artist is young when they are 60, says Seema Kohli

Deeply in tune with a spiritual approach to art and life, artist Seema Kohli chats with Abir Pothi about love, Shakti, and conviction Epic, magical, mesmerizing, surreal and infinitely intricate art that celebrates the feminine — this just about embodies the vast multi-disciplinary oeuvre of Delhi-based artist Seema Kohli, who has meticulously presented a stunning range of

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‘I refuse to be shoved into a box of stereotypes’, says Pakistani artist Fauzia Minallah

She is a fearless voice in a turbulent time, a beacon of outspokenness for the rights of women and children, and an inexorable force in promoting environment and heritage conservation. Pakistani artist Fauzia Minallah paints, makes cloth murals, engraves slates, creates installations in the woods, writes and illustrates books, sketches searing political cartoons, and designs

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