PickWeek

Painting since he was 14, Shankar Waghela initially stuck to the traditional tools paints, palettes and canvas of his craft. And till 1970, he gained accolades and fame as an oil painter. But at 42, after a fleeting look at shards of glass, Waghela found himself drawn to a whole new form of expression. And his first work of portable mosaic, commissioned by the Gujarat government to commemorate the Gandhi Centenary, was none other than the historic Dandi March.

Broken pieces of glass, welded together re-enact India8217;s freedom struggle on a wall at the Gandhinagar Sachivalaya. From then on, Waghela has painted presidents, adivasis, horses and saints. His mosaic portraits can be found in the homes of Jaqueline Kennedy, Indira Gandhi and J R D Tata. And the future: An exhibition in London sponsored by the Satyeshwar Mahatma Gandhi Foundation. At the Taj Art Gallery, Taj Mahal Hotel till May 11, 1998. Time: 10.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Calcutta-based Shaibal Ghosh is presenting Mumbai his water colours. He worksin the traditional method of layering. He does not mix two colours to get a third but lets the colours mix on the canvas itself. He believes that the method gives his paintings a freshness. And like his painting technique, his themes are also steeped in tradition they show his inclination for spiritualism. His 31 paintings are priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 30,000.At the Cymroza Art Gallery, Bhulabhai Desai Road from May 06 to May 23, 1998. Time: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.