Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Bharatha Naatyam 1 - painting by Usha Shantharam




Bharatha Naatyam 1
Acrylic painting on canvas
Size: 30x24 inches



Exhibited at Chitra Kala Parishath Art Gallery - Bengaluru



Bharatha Naatyam 2 - painting by Usha Shatharam


Bharatha Naatyam 2
Acrylic painting on gallery-wrap canvas
Size: 30x24 inches


On display at Chitra Kala Parishath Art Gallery - Bengaluru

Bharatha Naatyam 3 - painting by Usha Shantharam


Bharatha Naataym 3
Acyrlic painting on gallery-wrap canvas
Size: 30x24 inches




On display at Chitra Kala Parishath Art Gallery Bengaluru.

Namaskaaramu - in Kuchupidi - painting by Usha Shantharam




Acrylic painting on gallery-wrap canvas
Size: 30x24 inches


On Display at Chitra Kala Parishath Art Gallery Bengaluru

Monday, October 28, 2013

Dance of Mahishaasura Mardini - in Kuchupidi - painting by Usha Shantaram




Dance of Mahishaasura Mardini - in Kuchupidi
size: 36x36 inches
Acrylic painting on stretched canvas




Dance of Mahishaasura Mardini - painting is special to me. 

Mahishaasura Mardini is an incarnation of Goddess Durga who had slayed the Demon Mahishaasura to save the people from his cruel ways. We celebrate this win of the Goddess - good over the evil - during the Navrathri festival every year for 10 days.  

This painting happened to get displayed for the first time on the first day of Navrathri. 

Another reason for this painting being special to me -   Even at the under- painting level during the making of this painting, I got a call from London BBC World News Hangout requesting me to take part in a live online Hangout on BBC, to discuss the topic 'What makes Art Iconic'.  

It was a wonderful experience to be discussing - 'What makes art iconic' with four other illustrious artists from around the world,  and the program was hosted by none other than Will Gompertz - BBC Arts Editor, andBenjamin Zand - producer/BJ at BBC World. 

 I will remember this day forever. 

You can watch the BBC World News Hangout on YouTube Here. 









Shringaar Ras - Odissi painting.

I have always loved the grace and style of Odissi dancers.  Typical dress code being the Mogra flower crown and the waist band.

Smooth movements along with the 'Bhava' (facial expressions) make this dance style a favorite of mine. Odissi dancing by this beautiful couple during the 'Kahajurao Festival of Dance' was a pleasure to watch.







Shringaar Ras
acrylic painting on gallery-wrap canvas
size: 30x24 inches
LAYA series of paintings




Krishna Nee Begane Ba Ro - LAYA series of classical dancers painting

The 'Bhava' (expression on face) of the male dancer reveals his love and admiration for Lord Krishna.  I was reminded of the song 'Krishna Nee Begane Ba Ro, which became the natural title of this painting. 

Painting a male dancer was interesting. A wide neck, broad shoulders and slim hips - all were opposites to painting of a female person - and yet dancing with such dignified ease and grace caught my attention as I watched this dancer perform at the 'Khajuraho Festival of Dance'. 



Krishna Nee Begane Ba Ro
acrylic painting on gallery-wrap canvas
ready to hang, framing optional
Size: 24x36 inches






on

Photos of paintings at the show.



























About LAYA - Group Art Show





Laya – Rhythms of Nature and Dance
Group Exhibition of paintings by 5 Women Artists (including me)
Starts 4th Oct to 10th Oct 2013
Timings 10am to 7pm
At Chitra Kala Parishath – Kumara Krupa Road –Bengaluru.

‘Laya’ in Sanskrit – meaning Rhythm – is the theme of this collection of paintings presented by 5 talented women artists of Bangalore.  Each one of artists has interpreted the expression ‘Laya’ in various ways and has painted her feelings and impressions on canvas in her own unique style. 
Shyamala Ramanand, Kavitha Prasanna and Usha Rai have found their Laya in Nature. Taking inspiration from all around them, they have expressed the colors, beauty and rhythm of nature through landscapes and flora-fauna paintings.  Breathtaking views of sunrise and sunsets, waterfalls and rocks, flowers and shrubs, light and shadows; all express the ‘Laya’ of Nature in their paintings.   

Whereas Asha Sudhaker Shenoy and Usha Shantharam have discovered Laya in the Rhythmic beats of various Indian Classical Dances.  Being lovers of dance forms, they have captured the mudras (meaningful gesture) Bhava ( facial expressions) Laya (rhythm) and yoga (body language) of the performing dancers in the expressive strokes of their brushes on canvas.


The LAYA of life is colorfully portrayed by all the five artists in this collection of paintings that are fit to adorn the Drawing room walls of any Art Lover or Art Collector.  This is the second initiative of this group of dedicated artists. 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Inauguration of LAYA - Group Art Show at Chitra Kala Parishath Art Complex Bengaluru

It was a lovely evening on the 4th Oct 2013, with 200+ guests gracing the inauguration of our group show called 'LAYA' - Rhythms of Nature and Dance. 

The five faced Lamp was lighted by Dr. B L Shankar- President Chitra Kala Parishath, Sri DK Chowta - general secretary Chitra Kala Parishath, Eminent artist Sri Prahalad, Sri Kiran Subraminiam- classical dancer/artistic director of Rasika Arts Foundation and Srimathi Usha P Rai - Kannada writer/artist - respectively. 

This was followed by welcoming of the guests and the introduction of the artists by Usha Shantharam (myself) . Our illustrious guests were introduced and honored by Shyamala Ramanand, Asha Sudhakar Shenoy, Usha P Rai and Kavitha Prasanna. All of us are the artists of LAYA - group art show.

The chief guests spoke and encouraged us artists to keep up the good work, and to present more shows. Then they did the round up of all our paintings and had many good words of praise for our works.

This was followed by high Tea and many wonderful appreciation from our guests and a few sales too. 

Here are some photos of the inauguration ceremony.




Getting prepared.

Arrival of guests.

Lighting of Lamp by Dr. B L Shankar - President Chitra Kala Parishath Art Complex.

Lighting of Lamp by Sri D K Chowta.

Lighting of Lamp by renowned artist Sri Prahalad.

Lighting of Lamp by Sri Kiran Subramaniam.


Lighting of Lamp by writer/artist Srimathi Usha Rai.

The Lighted Lamp.


Welcome address by Usha Shantharam ( myself).

Welcoming the guests.

Introducing the artists.

Welcoming Sri B L Shankar by Shyamala Ramanand.

Welcoming Sri D K Chowta by Usha Rai 

Welcoming Sri Kiran Subraniam by Asha Sudhaker Shenoy 

Presenting bouquets to the guests by Kavitha Prasanna


Guest talk. Sri Kiran Subramaniam.

Guest talk. Sri D K Chowta.

Guest talk. Dr. Sri B L Shankar.

Guest Talk - Harish Padmanabhan.



Chief Guests.









Chief guests

Artists of the 'LAYA' Group Art Show


Left to right
Usha Rai, Kavitha Prasanna, Usha Shantharam (myself), Asha Sudhakar Shenoy, Shyamal Ramanand.























With family









With renowned artists K N Ramachandran and Lingadevaru


With artist Babu Jattakar.












Renowned artists Shri Prahalad and Babu Jattakar.

With artist Milind Nayak.


Malvika Ramanand official photographer of our show clicking away.



Usha and Usha. 
Usha squared as we used to call ourselves. — with eminant Kannada writer/co-artist Usha Rai.