Rajasthan artisanship on display

10 master painters from Rajasthan will display their contemporary work from February 13-19 in the national Capital. 

Over 100 paintings will be on display, some from the private collections of the painters. The exhibition, which has been curated by Durgesh Shankar, is an unique exhibition celebrating diversity and folklore. It is a week-long event which will see the best of artworks from the sand dunes of Rajasthan under one roof.

The participating artists include Shilp Guru Pradip Mukherjee, Padma Shri S. Shakir Ali, Shilp Guru Nand Kishore Sharma, Shilp Guru Reva Shankar Sharma, National Awardees Shammi Sharma (Shammi ‘Bannu’), Ramu Ramdev, Kalyan Joshi, Trilok Prakash Soni, Raja Ram Sharma; along with Kuldeepak Soni.

Among the works for sale would be Rajasthani phad paintings (originally narrative scrolls on long canvas pieces, since miniaturised and painted on cloth/canvas or paper), pichwais (large paintings intended to provide a backdrop to the idol of Sri Nathji, to depict a festival or mood) and Rajasthan, Mughal and Persian miniature paintings. The paintings have been made using traditional methods and natural colours.

Curator of the event-Durgesh Shankar is a retired member of Central Board of Direct Taxes and Special Secretary to the government of India, who has always had a keen interest in fine arts and is smitten by rich heritage of Rajasthan and the vibrancy of Rajasthani art. 

“An artist, through his art, is essentially telling a story. Excellence in art therefore means, to me, how well he is able to communicate the story to you, his audience. The stories they choose to tell, the images they conceive, the lines they draw and embellish with colours, will inextricably draw you into their web. Enjoying a work of art is a highly individualistic experience. If it makes you turn around just so you can see it once more, then the artist has succeeded in his work. For if a mere look can transport you away from the humdrum of life, then it is, in my view, a great piece of art”, said Durgesh Shankar. “Rajasthan has perhaps experienced these influences more than others, and has subsumed them in every aspect of their lives, including art.  In this exhibition, through the 10 artists of diverse genre, who are acknowledged as masters in their fields, and who are working quietly in remote corners of the State, churning out masterpieces, I wish to introduce their work to the audience in Delhi, so that people can admire and enjoy the fine brush-work, the magic of the natural colors and the vivid portrayal of themes known to us since childhood but again presented to us on a modern palette,” he added.