(From top) Satish Gujral with art-historian Yashodhara Dalmiya at the launch of the latter’s book on Amrita Sher-Gil; model Nayanika Chatterjee strikes a pose flaunting Amrapali’s latest collection

Amrita Sher-Gil is an artist who never ceases to fascinate people. So, there’ll probably be no shortage of takers for the newest book on her by art historian Yashodhara Dalmia who has spent over four years researching the book. “Amrita was a woman ahead of her times who made her own rules and gave us an art which melts together western sensibility with Indian aesthetics,” says Dalmia.

The book traces every inch of Sher-Gil’s short and tumultuous life. It investigates her professional moves and also her relationship with her family, friends and many lovers. Sher-Gil died at 28.

The book was launched by artist Satish Gujral who said he had met Sher-Gil when he was at college in Lahore. Gujral said Dalmia’s book had been researched with care. “There were many things I did not know about her and came to know only after reading the book,” he said. The event, organised at Delhi’s ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton and Tower’s bar, included artists Subrata Kundu, Gopi Gajwani, Director of National Gallery of Modern Art, Dr. Rajiv Lochan, former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley and the ambassador of Chile, Jorge Heine.

Pearly sheen

There’s a classic touch to a rope of pearls that is undeniable. So to make a statement with their accessories this summer, Amrapali launched a range of pearl jewellery at their store in Khan Market, Delhi. The collection boasted contemporary and neo-classical styles designed for the modern woman. The treatment was eclectic. Elegant strands of pearls strung in dual tones were highlighted with silver inserts and pendants. Bracelets and bangles too were studded with pearls along with colourful stones.

Fashion designers Poonam Bhagat, Anju Modi, Rahul Jain and Gunjan Arora interpreted the splendour of pearls with their garments. Model Nayanika Chatterjee started off the event by draping a sari designed by Bhagat. What went with it was a thick rope of green dyed pearls. “They are not very heavy even though they look so. I love the look it gives the sari,” said Chatterjee as she played with the neckpiece she had donned for the occasion.

Meanwhile the designers had their own take on the occasion. “Pearls go well with saris and even with jeans. My first pearls were a pair of earrings that were presented to me by my parents when I was 12,” said Bhagat whose collection of hand weaves had mother-of-pearl inlays. Modi, inspired by the colour white, created an experimental silhouette. The youthful look was strong in Jain and Arora’s design which sells under the label Sirali.

According to Jain, pearls are an acquired taste. “In our designs, we have kept a minimalist theme with no bling, hence pearl jewellery goes well with our clothes.” Here’s to some class in jewellery.

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma