India’s only daily art newspaper
Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian, a conceptual work consisting of a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall has made headlines as one of the most polemic works in contemporary art. First shown at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, it soon sparked discussion about art’s nature and value. The work sold for $150,000 at its debut, an […]
Does Comedian Expose the Art Market or Exploit It? Read More »
The Lonely City by Olivia Laing is an exploration of loneliness in the modern city, and the connection between solitude and creativity through the lens of iconic artists like Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, David Wojnarowicz (and Nan Goldin), Henry Darger, Vivian Maier, Klaus Nomi, Josh Harris and Zoe Leonard. She explores Edward Hopper in the
How The Lonely City Misses the Mark on Artistic Motivation Read More »
When pretty much every thing in the world today seemed possible with AI, internet, and cameras ever cheaper, one may wonder the point of creating images by hand; particularly hyperrealistic paintings. Why paint what you can photograph with someone quickly? These questions quickly faded when I found the work of Parag Sonarghare and suddenly, it
Why Hyperrealism Isn’t Dead: Reflections on Parag Sonarghare’s Art Read More »
Introduction The last few decades have witnessed a rise in individual artists from around the world to create work based on themes of cultural identity, social struggle and complex dialogue between tradition/modernity in different places. Misha Japanwala is one of them, a Pakistani artist and more recently fashion designer who has made her name through
The Irony & Sincerity in Misha Japanwala’s Practice Read More »
Art, especially abstract art, evokes many emotions, along with reefs of scepticism. The “I could do that too” argument has been countered many times with “Why didn’t you then?” And Mark Rothko is entrenched in that argument. If there is one artist who polarises art lovers and critics alike, it is Rothko, considered one of
If You Are Not Weeping Before a Rothko, Don’t Worry. You Are Not Alone Read More »
My last visit to the Nawab Palace of Murshidabad Hazardwari Palace which is now transformed into a museum, left me disheartened and questioning the notion of “better preservation.” As I observed the peeling wall paint and witnessed the neglect of priceless 17th and 18th-century oil paintings, I couldn’t help but reflect on the lack of
When they said that the table was big enough, I never knew that there were a few Terms and Conditions added to the clause. The table is big enough and accommodating only if you are ‘white’ Jesus and twelve of his ‘heterosexual, cis-gendered’ disciples. I am, of course, talking about the fiasco that enveloped the
No Offense! All Taken! Conservative Shook With the Drag Homage of This Grecian Event Read More »
Confronted with a vivid recollection that Google Photos thoughtfully presented to me—an image that encapsulates a momentous visit to the Taj Complex, an encounter with the epitome of artistic excellence. Four years ago on this very day, I found myself seated on a humble bench, gazing in awe at the resplendent Mughal monument. A Masterpiece.
What Defines a Masterpiece? Read More »
Two climate change protesters from the group Just Stop Oil were arrested after smashing a protective glass panel covering a famous Diego Velázquez oil painting at London’s National Gallery. The protesters targeted Velázquez’s “The Toilet of Venus” with small hammers, demanding Britain’s government to halt all licensing for fossil fuel exploration, development, and production in
At the very outset, a disclosure: I am no philosopher or a high priest of culture. Maybe, this is a rant at best. However, I have been confined for decades now and I discovered the culprit: I was held hostage by the postmodernists. While many may disagree, the postmodernist mindset may even be one of