Arts Illustrated - April - May 2019

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After the rains, that unmistakable smell of wet earth – mann vasanai, as we say in Tamil – is like an old, weathered hand reaching out from the depths of the earth to meet us. In that gesture of reaching up, it carries with it a deep-rooted sense of knowing. We see that gesture in a young sapling or an ancient tree, and are reminded, time and again, that it is the soil beneath our feet that makes us stand tall.
And, so, our theme this issue is simply that – Soil – with all the images, metaphors and symbolism it carries: the politics of caste, identity and belonging; the artfulness (and earthworm-y quality) of constant restructuring and relevance; the power and influence of privilege and perceived dominance; and even those sensory filaments of memory and nostalgia unconsciously (and consciously) conditioned with dollops of prejudice.

Reconnecting Roots

Monolithic form taking centre stage, often using bright and multiple colours, layered with intricate patterns are some of the significant features of a typical work of Gond art. In an exclusive interview with Gond artist Bhajju Shyam, we rediscover this art form’s innate connection to nature and the artist’s own roots, deeply embedded within the different colours and textures of the earth

7 mins

Heart Of Clay

From the ‘abode of the Godmakers’, the distinctive characteristic of the soil used in idol-making is more than just raw material; it is an amalgam of an ancient history that the earth holds

5 mins

A House With A View

Rarely does one come across a house that is built around art. The Passi residence in South Delhi was conceived of keeping in mind their envious collection of art and furniture that represent avant-garde design trends. ‘All the walls of our home are painted white so the works of art can remain the focus, and all the corridors and halls are designed to be like mini- galleries with proper lighting,’ says Shalini Passi, patron of the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art and founder of the recently launched Shalini Passi Foundation that focuses on supporting artists working in new media.

5 mins

A Stone Is Cast

Art as a space has the ability to both transcend barriers and break them, while also creating newer, more sensitive and tolerant boundaries from which to view, like unexpected ripples distorting perceived perfection

6 mins

Circle Of Life

While some believe they are man-made hoaxes, others believe aliens are responsible for it. We throw in a few more outlandish theories to the mix in an attempt to add to the considerable body of non-knowledge on crop circles

3 mins

The Transformers

Chennai-based architect Krithika Subrahmanian walks us through her studio space and shows us why a keen sense of balance is the key in design and architecture

5 mins

Being in Touch

An earth architect introspects on why earth as a renewable material is not only a possible solution to current unsustainable construction trends but also a tactile show of respect to the ecosystem

3 mins

Hope For The Loom

The SavetheLoom project that revived Kerala’s handloom cotton and khadi, despite the devastating floods, is testament to how fashion as a system relies on a network; one that can be harnessed for social good and collective innovation

5 mins

From Grime To Glory

The updated version of Bollywood’s ‘son of the soil’ trope, Gully Boy’s troubled roots don’t stop him from shooting towards the sky

5 mins

Free Wheeling

Mridula Koshy’s ‘Bicycle Dreaming’ leads us through the vivid and physical spaces of Delhi’s urban poor and the hierarchies that exist within seen through the eyes of its 13-year-old protagonist, Noor, daughter of a kabadiwala

4 mins

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Arts Illustrated Magazine Description:

Arts Illustrated is an Indian based arts and design magazine dedicated to understanding the contemporary arts landscape and creating a more inclusive ecosystem for the arts in the country. It delves deeply into the visual arts and design narrative, offering a global and contemporary perspective to subjects, information and ideas that we believe, need to be heard by a larger audience. Our endeavour is to create an exciting read that reflects our ethos to inspire, evoke and enrich our readers. Our visually laid out chronicle of the creative landscape is published bi-monthly (once in two months) and is available across 12 key cities in India.