Abirpothi

Opinion Feature

Why Hyperrealism Isn’t Dead: Reflections on Parag Sonarghare’s Art

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 […]

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The Irony & Sincerity in Misha Japanwala’s Practice

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

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If You Are Not Weeping Before a Rothko, Don’t Worry. You Are Not Alone

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

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Preserving India’s Cultural Heritage: The Need for Stronger Institutional Support and Widespread Art Institutes

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

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No Offense! All Taken! Conservative Shook With the Drag Homage of This Grecian Event

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

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Activism Meets Art: A Critical Examination of Climate Protests and Their Impact on Cultural Heritage

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

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I was taken hostage by postmodernists, but I have had enough. Let’s get rid of this dead-end

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

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Good Art, Bad Artist! Is It Even Possible to Separate Art From the Artist?

Introduction The age-old debate of whether one can separate the art from the artist remains a topic of fervent discussion, touching upon ethical, moral, and aesthetic dimensions. This essay delves into the various perspectives surrounding this issue, examining instances where the art and the artist’s personal life intersect or diverge. 1. The Aesthetic Disconnect A

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The Van Gogh 360° Delhi was More Instagramable than Immersive. What about Banglore?

Paridhi Badgotri This could have been a phenomenal enlightening experience but what it really offers is the pop-culture aesthetics to generate reels — giving you a fancy cup without any chai in it.   After insurmountable reels of Van Gogh 360° overtaking my feed, I was excited to visit Van Gogh 360°: The Immersive Art

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