(From top): Astad Deboo performs at Sakshi Gallery; Mahesh Bhatt at the Oxford Bookstore; a model at Spykar’s Vertical Fashion Walk; Anju Dodiya, Atul Dodiya, Tunty Chauhan (of Threshold Gallery), Gulam Mohammad Sheikh and Rameshwar Broota at the Angkor Wat exhibition

Tall tribute

Director Mahesh Bhatt is a man of many parts. Recently he was a guest at a book release and discussion on maverick philosopher U. G. Krishnamurthy. ?Those who want to fortify their spirituality by using his book, do not touch it,? said Bhatt enigmatically about Krishnamurthy?s book, Stopped in our Tracks.

As the compere introduced Krishnamurthy as Bhatt?s guru, Bhatt remarked that ?UG doesn?t like to be called a guru. He would rather be called a conman or a crook. He believes that the idea of God has done mischief to mankind?. The talk was organised by the Oxford Bookstore in Delhi in association with Smriti Books as part of the bookstore?s national curated event, Karmasutra ? Mind, Body, Spirit. Also present on the occasion was actor Gulshan Grover.

What ensued was an evening of reminiscence as Bhatt read out from the forewords he?d chosen to write for Krishnamurthy?s books. He recalled an incident when he witnessed the latter burning his black and white photographs. Said Bhatt, ?It was a night that would change his life completely. I got the feeling that it would give birth to something magnificent, something which UG himself would not be able to destroy.?

Art and the city

The temples of Angkor Wat are one of the architectural wonders of Asia and they have been an inspiration for 11 artists who travelled there last year. The result is a Delhi exhibition which reflects the lasting impression the ancient city made on them. The Bodhi Art Gallery in association with Gallery Threshold organised an exhibition of these paintings, which will next move on to Singapore.

Anju Dodiya, Atul Dodiya, Amit Ambalal, Gargi Raina, Gulam Mohammad Sheikh, Jayashree Chakravarty, Jogen Chowdhury, Nilima Sheikh, Nataraj Sharma, Rameshwar Broota and Vasundhara Tewari were the artists whose works were on display for art connoisseurs. The historical context of Angkor was a common theme that connected the paintings except probably for Broota?s who professed that it was random thought that was reflected in his canvas. ?I am not an landscape artist, so though it was a very interesting experience, it is not recorded in my painting,? smiled Broota.

Among Anju Dodiya?s paintings on display were two canvases, The Churning and Vishnu?s Knot. While the first was based on the Samudra Manthan, the latter was inspired by the sculptures that Anju fell in love with in Cambodia. ?The sampods (pleated dhotis) that these standing figures wore fascinated me, so much so that it found expression in the form of Vishnu?s knot where a yellow knot runs across the canvas,? she said.

The mythology of the Samudra Manthan was reflected in Gulam Mohammad Sheikh?s paintings too. ?Angkor Wat has some of the greatest panels depicting the Manthan. The historical context is moving. Cambodia has seen a terrible genocide, yet it?s interesting to see how its people have coped with it,? he said.

Creative callings

Inspired by artist Sunil Gawde?s sculptural installations titled Blind Bulb etc., Astad Deboo performed at Sakshi Gallery to a packed house. Dancing amidst the artist?s works, Astad mesmerised visitors who had dropped in to see both artists showcasing their work jointly.

The creative partnership between the two friends, both from diverse disciplines, had been on their minds for a long time now. Things became a reality when Astad walked in to see the show and spent many hours choreographing moves around the works. His graceful movements synchronised beautifully with the magic of Sunil?s works of sculpture installation. The performance was a celebration of the basic harmony and oneness of life.

Gawde?s show, Blind Bulb etc., is a unique show in itself. The works explore the world of sleeping objects, which magically awake to the viewer?s touch and gaze. The metal butterfly is activated by our looking; the spring that works its way around the pendulum bobs, dragging and raising itself by sheer will-power, and a collection of moons dips in and out of view on a darkened sky map, pursuing a relentless logic of rotation, revolution and eclipse, marking off our hours and days. Imagery hard to describe but obviously drawn from life and its many mysteries.

Spotted at the venue were a host of artists and theatre personalities including Jitish Kallat, Brinda Miller, Jenny Bhatt, Rahul Vajale, Sameer Mondal, Usha Gawde, Avantika Akrekar and photographer Ashok Salian.

Gravity-defying style

The recently-held Spykar fashion show was one with a difference. The usual models were there, the clothes were in place and so was the music. The only difference: the ramp was positioned on the wall. Of course, that meant, the models, in addition to the outfits they were wearing, had to pile on loads of safety equipment.

Titled Spykar 90 degrees ? the Vertical Fashion Walk, the unique event had many audience members hooked as the models walked up the walls of Inorbit Mall.

In addition to the splendid display of guts and the gravity-defying walk, the event also showcased Spykar?s latest Spring-Summer collection. The new line was all about cool fabrics, summery shades and trendy styles. Based on two themes ? Nomadic Hues and Urban Vibes ? the collection comprised stunning shirt styles, denim and non-denim fusions with bright yarn dyed ribs and trendy mesh that oozed attitude.

Orchestrated by Xtreme Zone, an adventure sports company, the show was choreographed by Sameer Bhayani and models sashayed up the walls with great confidence. Unfortunately most of the well-known models refused to walk the wall and Bhayani had to resort to upcoming models and a few from Xtreme Zone itself.

Said Sanjay Vakharia, marketing director, Spykar Jeans, ?Spykar caters to youth who believe in doing the uncommon with class, perfection and confidence. There are different areas that the youth connects to, be it partying or just being with friends and Spykar would like to be associated with them. Adventurous to the core, this exclusive vertical fashion walk is one of our efforts to connect with the youth in an arena which interests them.?

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma and Gajanan Dudhalkar