Alternate Views

As an artist,reasons Vij,“It’s easier for her to understand if someone wants a particular style of art or has any other specifications. So I source works from all over India and have held art shows at my gallery inviting artists from the city,’’ says Vij,adding that the gallery will be a space for sharing ideas,discussing new movements in art,and networking with younger artists. From July 20 onwards,Vij is organising an advance painting workshop at the Gallery with Sanjeev Srivastava from Mumbai,to help artists explore new possibilities of their medium. “In this part of the country,exposure to new techniques in art are less and we are not in touch with what’s new on the art scene. The Gallery will fill that gap.”

Like Vij,the creative lot in the city are taking art out of ‘niche corners’ and opening up spaces to involve not just the connoisseurs of art. The Art Folio in Vandya Bagrodia’s Sector 9 home,in the basement is one of the oldest galleries in the city. It now sees artists from all over India displaying their works here,with Bagrodia promoting younger artists. “Earlier,if people needed to buy art,they headed to Delhi. Not any more,we have a superb range of works in varied price ranges,’’ smiles Bagrodia. The Sunshine Studio in the picturesque Kansal home of artist Ravinder Sharma is a place where he and his artist daughter work together. “It’s a tribute to my daughter and it’s such a wonderful experience to work together and share ideas,’’ says Sharma,who always wanted a place to share his work,style and thoughts,with others.

The professor at the College of Art has a line-up of activities planned,from slide shows to art demonstrations,lectures on new techniques and workshops for students. “The idea is to promote art and share it,otherwise it has no purpose. You have to get the community closer and we want artists from other cities to be in touch and have a space to hang out.’’ Likewise for painter Anju Pasricha,who feels,“the awareness about art is less,so are the spaces for young artists to display their work.” She owns the Zazen Art Centre in Sector -47,which she started in collaboration with Dr Bhattacharya,an art historian. Workshops for children,shows,exhibitions,Pasricha is actively involved to garner funds for the gallery and also to use the space to promote,inculcate and enhance art aesthetics among people. “The activity has got a lot to do with funding,selling and that’s a process we’re constantly grappling with,’’ explains Pasricha,who is working on a series on motifs,which she hopes to exhibit soon.