Modernism to Crypto - Sneak Peak at our February 2025 Exhibition
This would be an important never-before-seen exhibition exploring six decades of Modernism in Indian art and avant-garde art on the blockchain.
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Unraveling Francis Newton Souza in Saligao
This research originates from an insightful question-and-answer session with Keren SouzaKohn, the daughter of Francis Newton Souza. Set against the backdrop of the red earth roads, lush green paddy fields, and winding lanes of Saligao, Goa—Souza's birthplace—our conversation unveiled fascinating possibilities. What began as a simple dialogue soon transformed into a path-breaking interview, shedding new light on the art of F.N. Souza and the influences that shaped his work.
Read MoreKeren SouzaKohn: Reflections on Art, Family, and the Legacy of F.N. Souza
In an exclusive interview, Keren SouzaKohn delves into her unique upbringing under the shadow of her father, the legendary artist F.N. Souza. Growing up in a household steeped in art and creativity, Keren shares her early experiences, the profound influence of her father, and the eclectic mix of creative influences that shaped her artistic perspective.
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Keren SouzaKohn on artist and father F.N. Souza
SouzaKohn, daughter of the legendary Indian artist Francis Newton Souza, is a distinguished artist in her own right. Her evocative paintings capture everyday objects and familiar environments, transforming them into dynamic compositions filled with passion and vigor. Born in London, Keren completed her foundation course at Hornsey College of Art and earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Ravensbourne College of Art. Her extensive career includes numerous solo exhibitions, with a recent focus on her work with oils.
Read MoreAmina Ahmed Kar: Of Artistry and Academia
Amina Ahmed Kar’s intellectual and creative pursuits were ever evolving. Her dual legacy as an artist and academic is reflected in her oeuvre, which remains largely unexplored. As one of India's early abstract artists, she created works across various mediums. Call it the academic in her who would leave no leaf unturned or an artist in search of her creative expression, Kar’s body of work transformed endlessly.
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Calcutta Group Formation - Notes from Shanu Lahiri's book
Shanu Lahiri was Nirode Majumdar's sister and reminisces here about the formation of the Calcutta group in her book ' Smritir Collage' . The quotes and translations are from the same.
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Formation of the Calcutta Group - Anushtup Archives
The text translates pages from an article in Anushtup, a leftist journal that documents the beginnings of the Calcutta group and their Bombay affiliations via P.C. Joshi et al.
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Letter from Shubho Tagore to Rathin Maitra - The beginnings of the Calcutta Group
The first of the transcripts documenting the formation of the 'Calcutta Group' , a letter dated March 1942 written by Subho Tagore in Calcutta to Rathin Maitra in Pabna foreseeing a vision in creating something to illuminate the nation's art!
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The 'SkyNet' moment
For those who may not remember, SkyNet was the name of the program in the movie Terminator. The virus that initiated the rise of the machines. I refer to this moment as the SkyNet moment in art. 'The Avatar Series' is a series of artwork, a profile picture project generated using an AI engine. GPT4o (the latest and greatest in AI) is NOT able to make out whether the art is made by a person or a computer, whether it is made as an oil on canvas or digitally.
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Numerically Ranking The Artworks
Generative NFTs have been ranked on the rarity of traits. The same is; however, not possible for the 'The First Avatars' as each artwork is unique coming from a neural net. It will be possible to do a classification analysis at some point in the future to analyze which traits best fit which image portrait, but that is not an easy classification task. We look at some of the numerical ratings schemes proposed by GPT4.0.
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Chatting with GPT4.0
In trying to ascertain the quality of the images produced, we decided to chat with GPT-4.0. Please note that the artworks (The First Avatars) were painstakingly created after training a StyleGan model with portraits and various augmentations.
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My Reminiscences of Rathin Maitra - Partha Mitter
I pen here a few words about the remarkable artist Rathin Maitra. I knew Rathin Maitra by reputation as one of the luminaries of the Calcutta (present Kolkata) art scene. But I met Rathin Maitra for the first time in the 1950s at the Academy of Fine Arts in Calcutta.
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The Bhanu Athaiya Estate
India’s first Oscar winner, Bhanu Athaiya was born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, in the year 1929. Bhanu came to Mumbai as a teenager to learn painting at the JJ School of Arts. She went on to become the only woman to be invited to and join the Progressive Artists’ Group and the first woman to win the prestigious Usha Deshmukh Gold Medal in 1951 for the artwork titled 'Lady In Repose'.
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Gobardhan Ash Retrospective: The Avant-Garde Wall of Artificial Intelligence
In the concluding week of the Gobardhan Ash Retrospective Exhibition, esteemed representatives from the Consulates of Italy, Russia, Germany, and the US honoured the event with their presence. Attention flocked towards the Revolutionary Wall of Artificial Intelligence which unveiled India's first serious modern art profile-picture project made using AI.
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Gobardhan Ash Retrospective Exhibition (1929 - 1969)
Prinseps presents the Gobardhan Ash Retrospective (1929 - 1969) at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity—a captivating journey into the profound artistic legacy of Gobardhan Ash, a luminary of Indian modern art. From March 29th to April 21st, visitors are invited to explore this exhibition, which offers a comprehensive examination of Ash's pioneering contributions to the artistic landscape. Spanning four decades, it provides a glimpse into the creative genius that defined his remarkable career. Click here for a virtual tour of the exhibition.
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Eclectic Visions: Celebrating Modern Indian Art
Eclectic Visions unfolded in the bustling heart of Delhi, showcasing the rich tapestry of artistic expression. From poignant socio-political commentary to vibrant explorations of heritage and the fusion of jazz and art, our exhibit was a celebration of diverse voices and perspectives. The exhibit brought together four distinct voices, each weaving their narratives into the fabric of creativity.
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Art and Design in the Life of Bhanu Athaiya: Realizing a Dream By Gayatri Sinha
As a girl born into the priestly class of pandits from the royal house of Kolhapur in 1929, Bhanumati Rajopadhye may have appeared as an unlikely instigator of dramatic change in the sphere of mass aesthetics. But it is no exaggeration to say that she led the nation’s gaze in the appreciation of feminine beauty, mined the country’s craft and couture traditions, and created waves in the worlds of fashion and consumer desire. One of the questions around Bhanu Athaiya’s vast oeuvre is how do we address her art in the context of her work in cinema and vice-versa.
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Bharat through the lens of Bhanu Athaiya: A recap
'Bharat through the lens of Bhanu Athaiya' celebrates the doyenne of costume design Bhanu Rajopadhye Athaiya, and her exemplary vision of India. The exhibit delved into the essence of India embodied by Bhanu's iconic costume designs crafted for Indian cinema. A trailblazer in defining the aesthetics of a new India through her creations, Bhanu left an indelible mark on cinema. Her remarkable work graced films like Amrapali, Waqt, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Sangam, Gandhi, Lagaan, Swades, and more. An extension and continuation of the first Bhanu Athaiya exhibit shedding light on Bhanu's artistic and cinematic achievements in Delhi, the exhibit in Goa aimed to rediscover the roots of India through the eyes of a visionary costume designer Bhanu Rajopadhye Athaiya.
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Gobardhan Ash: A portrait a day
Gobardhan Ash began painting his self-portraits at the age of 27 and continued till he was 89 years old. These portraits could be lessons in self-love and awareness for future generations. Executed in various mediums, these portraits span decades and don’t just highlight Gobardhan’s changing facial features but his evolution as an artist. Most of his portraits were pen and ink sketches, while only a few were in oil and pencil mediums. These self-portraits put a face to the man who carved a unique artistic language and formed an essential part of Gobardhan’s oeuvre.
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"From Before There Was Fashion"
Bhanu's Stunning Designs For The First Calico Fashion Show Of 1958 Fashion is a vibrant and ever-evolving art form that reflects the spirit of an era. In the annals of Indian fashion history, one event stands out as a pivotal moment in time – the first Calico fashion show of 1958. In 1958, Bhanu Athaiya was invited by Ebrahim Alkazi to design the first traveling promotional fashion show in independent India for Calico Mills. This event took place at the "India '58" Trade Fair in New Delhi, making it a pivotal moment in Indian fashion history.
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