The exhibition of the Goel family at Birla Academy comprised the paintings of two self-styled artists Jawaharlal and daughter Vatsala, and bronze, brass and terracotta sculptures of her mother Nilima, who is the only trained artist among them. Nilima’s works included portraits of a boy and her spiritual mother-mentor, exquisite miniature animal studies of deer, rhinocerous, elephants, besides birds and quaint olive ridley turtles. There were also obese figures in various postures and a meditating Buddha. It’s a world of primitive, medieval and modern sculpture. Jawaharlal attempts to capture fleeting feelings, while Vatsala’s renderings of shapeless forms and calligraphic markings were youthful and emotional.
Sandip Sarkar
Presentation of Varnam, the most delicate and difficult item of the Bharatnatyam repertoire, was the best of Niloshree Bhattacharya’s arangetram (first solo mancha-pravesh) at Gyan Manch on November 11. Groomed by Thankamani Kutty, Bhattacharya has imbibed the finesse of Bharatnatyam under the guidance of Kalamandalam Venkitt. The programme commenced with Ganapathy Stuti, an invocatory number based on raga Saurashtram. The artiste described the divine beauty of Lord Ganesha with slow but supple movements. It was followed by traditional items like Alarippu and Jatiswaram. The experimental choreography based on Tagore song Prathama adi tabo shakti was refreshing with precise movements.
Sharmila Basu Thakur
‘Modern Mood’, an exhibition of paintings by Ramaprasad Ghatak and sculptures by Asim Basu at the Academy of Fine Arts, is like a breath of fresh air. Ghatak’s watercolours retain transparency but add strokes and daubs for textural effects. The light washes in between add to the fantasy. In Moonlit Night and My Village, he uses the imaginative language of child art. Basu’s bronze sculptures are slightly distorted, elongated and highly stylised. They are not small, but their tactile feel and in-built monumental quality reveal his artistry. The Violin Player and the double version Sarengi Player evoke an atmosphere of music. Two figures under one umbrella walking in the wind and rain speak of his competence as a sculptor. However, he should learn the application of patina and avoid inserting potholes on the surface of a work.
SS
