For the first time, four women artists from India participated in the Art Santa Fe Fair and World Health Congress which was held in America in July this year. In the exhibition, the artists displayed the traditional contemporary art of their respective countries. Indian artists represented their art in galleries curated by Gargi Seth, Director of India Art Circle at Art Santa Fe. Curator Gargi Seth curated the works of Arpana Kaur and India Art Circle grant recipients Neerja Chandna Peters and Renuka Sodhi Gulati. These artists are inspired by human emotions and folk tradition. This time the theme of the exhibition was folk tradition in contemporary art. Curator Gargi Seth said that art imbued with the fragrance of tradition and folk art attracts everyone. It is the nature of folk tradition that people automatically are drawn to their roots. India has a wealth of folk art and traditional paintings which should be presented to the world.
Recently, in a seminar organized at India International Centre, Gargi Seth said that we hesitate in selling and marketing our art. But this should not happen. We must present our art proudly on the international forums. In many countries of there is open talk about buying, selling and marketing of art. But India does not have the environment for this which needs to be developed.
The views of Gargi Seth were supported by NGMA Director General Sanjeev Kishore Gautam. Sanjeev Kishore said that contemporary art in India is going through two challenges which include lack of marketing and art education. There is a need to change the art curriculum in the colleges of the country. Traditional and folk arts should be included in the syllabus. At present students know about their folk art after college. With greater strength across the world, we will be able to increase our participation and shine in the art world. The second biggest challenge is the lack of market for art. There is a great need for art marketing in our country. Artists should have a platform to showcase their art. Currently, there are many such arts in the villages of our country which are hidden from the eyes of the people. The beautiful paintings of folk traditions have great potential which needs to be taken to the world stage.
Renowned artist Arpana Kaur, who participated in Santa Fe Art Fair, said that there is a fragrance of folk arts in every corner of India. People are aware of art in foreign countries, the same kind of awareness is needed in the country also. Folk artists need dealers to sell their paintings.Today’s young artists need to understand the art that is rooted in their soil .Senior artists can help them in this.
India Art Circle grant recipient Neerja Chandna, who subsequently attended Santa Fe Fair, said art influenced her so much that she quit her medical profession and took up painting as a full-time career. Art is like meditation for Chandna. According to her if any work is done wholeheartedly, it definitely reaches the heart.
Artist Renuka Sodhi Gulati opined it is a challenging task for the artists to first develop their own language and style. For her practicing art is like meditation.What to draw on canvas and how to express the feelings of the mind is a difficult task. In the end, ones work speaks on the canvas and the artist’s hard work and emotions definitely attract people.
