ArtSutra Kurate

Ram Kumar  One of India's greats.  During Independance setting up the Progressive Art Group , with MF Husain, SH Raza, KH Ara and the other fantastic painters.  They represented the New India, breaking away from the shackles of the British and setting up their own personal styles What made these young men, want to do this. Was it the creative freedom they wanted, wanting Indian Art not be too traditional , and breaking the stereotypes of the old, and bringing in fresh energy and ideas into everyones lives? They were all friends, worked together, and encouraged each other. There was collective pride in being the new face of India. Is that not very refreshing? Sometimes I wonder, did the energy of the group, carry each of them into their own paths, because all were great, and styles different and trajectories huge.  Oh to be a fly on the wall......

One of the best things that was done by the Indian Government on the Art front , was to declare some Art and Antiquities as non - exportable.  Though in my humble opinion, I think this list could have been longer, the fact that it is there, goes to show, on how someone in the Government of India, knew that this was an important legacy to safe keep  The list is simple  1 Raja Ravi Verma - a scion of the Southern state of Kerala , he was known for his portraiture and mythical paintings - mostly in large scale format 2. Rabindranath Tagore- the Nobel Laurette who was a visionary of the arts. Setting up an institute for the arts like no other. The famous Shantiniketan School. He started painting late in his life - 40 years to be precise, the works are more an expression of his many artistic prowess 3. Gagendranath Tagore- Nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, whose beautiful washed techniques, made his paintings have an ethereal look 4. Abnindranath Tagore - another newphew of Rabin...