Outsider /Visionary Art

Teju Behn, Fashion

Soni Jogi, Washing


Somi Jogi , Krishna

Outsider or visionary art the way I see it is art that is self-taught and in the case of India, outside of any established tradition. Visionary Art in some context is seen as art made by people with psychological issues who have found expression for their inner landscape in the art-work they do. In India, the Jogi family from Ahmedabad does what I call "Outsider Art", their lack of education no bar to the felicity with which they yield pen and colour. The father Ganesh Jogi, the mother Teju Behn, the sons Govind and Prakash, the daughters Somi and Sangita and of late, the daughter-in-laws, Soni , Govind's wife and Kanta, Prakash's wife -- all draw and paint, in styles that are quite different. My story on them made it to the cover story of the Folk Art Messenger magazine in USA which is published by the Folk Art Society of America http://http//www.folkart.org/mag/ganesh-jogi-teju-ben

Enjoy their art !!

Remembering a win: Pradyumna Kumar

It was a wonderful day for us when we learnt that Pradyumna Kumar has become the first Indian to ever win the Grand Prize at the 15th NOMA CONCOURS (2006) in Japan. The fact that he was chosen from 522 entries from across 48 countries was stupendous. His entry was an illustrated book " How the Firefly got its Light " and comprised of a series of paintings done in the Madhubani style. This book is now being published by Mapin. Here are some pictures from that extra-ordinary win

Cross-Cultural Exchanges

One of my goals is to take traditional artists from India to venues across the world where they can interact with artists from other cultures and showcase their own traditions. Such exchanges allow for creativity to unfold in new, sometimes unexpected ways and lead to dialogue, sometimes without language.

Here are some pictures from Crosshatched, a cross-cultural exchange programme supported by the Australia-India Council wherein three artists from India ( Pushpa Kumari, a Madhubani artist, Pradyumna Kumar, a paper-machie sculptor from Madhubani and Mantu Chitrakar, a pattachitra artist from West Bengal) travelled to Melbourne and worked with Australian artists Ann Ferguson, and Vipoo Srivilasa. They also conducted workshops with children of all ages at different venues.

Mantu Chitrakar singing out a scroll

Vipoo and Pushpa with one of their collaborative work

Story-telling - Minhazz with Pradyumna's award winning story How the Firefly got its Light

Mantu Chitrakar with his daughter Sonia's work on the walls at The Early Learning Centre

Ann and Pradyumna working on their Fusion Tree
For more details of the project see http://www.crosshatched.multiply.com/

Colourful folk art from India - enjoy

Kalam Patua, Kalighat Contemporary

Pushpa Kumari, Madhubani, Contemporary

Pradyumna Kumar and Pushpa Kumari, Traditional aripana