Mysore Art Centre has organised screening of ‘The Open Frame,’ a documentary on Mysore-born artist S.G. Vasudev, by Chetan Shah on Apr. 17 at 6 pm at Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha on JLB Road in city. The screening will be followed by an interaction with the artist.
Just like a writer using words to describe his thoughts or a photo-grapher using his frames to express himself, an artist uses his canvas to pour his thoughts, tell the world what he wants to through sketches and colours and most importantly, be himself. An entire life is dedicated looking for new subjects for better creation and inspiration. But when the artist himself becomes a subject for a creation to inspire others, will it not be a tribute to his genius?
“The Open Frame,” a docu-mentary by Chetan Shah is one such tribute to noted artist S.G. Vasudev. Born in 1941 in My-sore, Vasudev graduated from Government College of Arts, Chennai. He works in various mediums like draw-ings, paintings, copper reli-efs and tapestries. His works have been exhibited in India and abroad including at New York, Chicago, London and Munich.
Vasudev has worked as an art director in award-winning Kannada films Samskara and Vamsha Vriksha and has also done cover designs for many important publications. His awards include those instituted by the National Lalithkala Akademi.
Vasudev set up a private trust Arnawaz Vasudev Charities in 1989 in memory of his wife Arna-waz, who died after battling with cancer in 1988. The Trust aims to promote art education and art activities and also provide fina-ncial assistance to young artists.
Star of Mysore had a brief online chat with Vasudev, who now resides in Bangalore, prior to his arrival in city. Excerpts…
Star of Mysore (SOM): What made you choose art as a profession?
S.G.Vasudev (SGV): I don’t think I would have fitted into anything else!
SOM: Your contribution to Cholamandalam Artists’ Village, Chennai.
SGV: Cholamandal Artists’ Village was started in 1965 by a group of artists. The idea is to make living by extending art to craft as it was difficult to make living on art alone. It is a co-operative of artists and has provided spaces for artists to work and also exhibit in the galleries provided; otherwise artists have to build their own houses/studios. I am one of the founder members of the place and even now I go and work there quite often.
SOM: How was it working for films?
SGV: I worked as art director in Samskara and Vamsha Vriksha along with literary giants Girish Karnad and B.V. Karanth. It was a very good experience to work in a different medium. But I preferred to continue my painting and not commercialise.
SOM: Your definition of art.
SGV: Art is what I do. It has no other definition for me.
SOM: What makes your work different and stand out from others… your styles?
SGV: One has to learn grammar, language and skill. If one has got all these things one can evolve a style or a technique of their own. More importantly, you have to work on individuality.
SOM: How will you describe the evolution of your work?
SGV: I have gone through a number of series in my work — Fantasy, Maithuna, Tree of Life, Tree of Life and Death, Human-scapes, He and She, Earth-scapes, Theatre of Life and Rhapsody. This is what I have done in the last 50 years or so. This is my evolution.
SOM: Inspiration for your paintings will be…
SGV: Many sources — poetry, music, theatre, folk stories, Indian miniature paintings, murals and works of a few artists.
SOM: What are the current projects you are working on?
SGV: My show titled ‘Recoll-ections Reconnections’ is going around the country. It was shown in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chen-nai and Bangalore since December 2010. After this summer, it will go to Baroda, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Hyderabad.
SOM: Are Indian artists getting due recognition they deserve?
SGV: Artists are being given much more respect today. Peo-ple have realised their contribution in bringing contemporary Indian art to the mainstream.
SOM: Your advice to young artists who have selected painting as a profession.
SGV: Hard work and sincerity is the mantra. Do not get into the rat race as it is happening with galleries. Wait patiently to get the recognition you deserve.
SOM: Lastly, your view on Mysore as a platform for budding artists.
SGV: I am Mysorean by birth. My mother was an amateur artist and she had won gold medal in Mysore Dasara Exhibition when she was in her teens. My grand-father worked for Chamundeshwari Temple for over 40 years. For me Mysore is nostalgia. I love this place. It is also producing very good artists from Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) and some of them have become well-known nationally and internationally which is a good development.
— M.S. Apuurva
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Feature Articles / Monday, April 16th, 2012