Mobile Artistic Platform - 14 Nov 2010

Maraa (http://maraa.in) and Reloading Images (www.reloadingimages.org) presented the Mobile Artistic Platform Open Studio at 1ShanthiRoad gallery (www.1shanthiroad.com).

The Open Studio presented to the public, the impressions gathered by the participating artists** during their three week travel through South India.
The participating artists traveled to the following places:

• The Free Tree Commune in Vemgal (Kolar District-Karnataka)
• The Nila River in Kerala (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharathappuzha) &
• Anegundi in Karnataka

During their travel/residence, they explored the possibilities, difficulties and failures of:

• sustainable tourism,
• cross-cultural exchange, &
• artistic collaboration and hospitality.

The artists shared their findings of their journey through performances, installations, audio/video presentations and a puppet show at the gallery. They also shared their experiences with the visiting public, regarding the challenges of making art while traveling and residing in the places they visited.
In terms of the artworks created, the motivating factor was more about capturing the "process" of creating art while traveling/residing & participating actively with the local community, than being concerned about the final outcome. A platform such as this, offers international participants know the culture, landscape and people of a host country at a more personal level and imbibe artistic nuances into their subconscious, that will enable them to view their own art practice through a more holistic lens.

Organisers:
Maraa (Bangalore) & Reloading Images (Berlin)

**Participating Artists:
Enrico Sgarbi & Martina Moor (Italy), Juliana Irene Smith (USA), Louise McKissick (Canada), Bhagwati Prasad & Harsha Vinay (India)

Supported by:
Arts Network Asia (www.artsnetworkasia.org)
& ASEF-Europe Foundation (www.asef.org)
--------------------------------------------------
Review:
P.L.Jose
www.PLJose.com
www.BringYourOwnArt.com

Photography Exhibition: Artist - Karen Knorr

Artist - Karen Knorr

About Karen Knorr
http://www.karenknorr.com/about/
http://www.tasveerarts.com/artists/Karen_knorr_01.shtml

Karen Knorr's photographs, is a fine example of the "marriage" between modern digital photography and manipulation techniques with the best in analogue photography. Each of the photographs displayed were about 3 feet by 2.5 feet with white wooden framing, which helped the colors of the interiors of palaces and the fur and plumage of the various animals and birds, to stand out. Unlike George Orwell's "Animal Farm", these animals and birds do not try to personify or represent human characters/groups, rather, according to the artist, "they roam freely in human territory drawing attention to the unbridged gap between nature and culture. They encroach into the domain of the museum and other cultural sanctuaries which resolutely forbids their entry". To the viewer, this intermingling comes out naturally as uncommon, and he/she is challenged to pay attention and appreciate the "surprise" element.

The artist's statement for the fables series can be read here:
http://www.tasveerarts.com/artists/Karen_knorr_artiststatement_fables.shtml

8 October to 30 November 2010
Tasveer
Sua House, 26/1 Kasturba Cross Road,
Bangalore 560001, India.

2nd India-India Residency

Ms.Mithila Baindur, an artist from Bangalore has a BFA in Sculpture from Chitrakala Parishath. Featured here are her works (installation and photographs), that were an outcome of her being part of "The Bengaluru Artist Residency Project (1)", supported by India Foundation for the Arts. Mithila's project is titled "tracing the lifelines of objects between aura and disposal". The works were exhibited at Samuha Artist Initiative (Bangalore) from 20 - 24. September, 2009.

"The artist, through this installation has shown how an individual develops a strong link with the symbolic value of discarded objects; which stay a long time in our homes as memories of a time. She addresses the question of the real value of these mundane objects, which convey the feeling of 'home sweet home'. She has used worn down objects and pieces of furniture that we keep in our houses as part of our identity"

The Bengaluru Artist Residency Project (1), established in 2001, is a non-profit exchange programme by artists for artists to foster the local, Indian and international mutual exchange of ideas and experiences through guest residencies in Bengaluru. bar1 is registered as a Public Charitable Trust and is currently in partnership with Pro Helvetia, Delhi and supported by IFA, the India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore.bar1 is run by visual artists* from within the Bengaluru contemporary art scene.

*Surekha, Ayisha Abraham, Smitha Cariappa, Prabhavati Meppayil, Suresh Kumar Gopalreddy, Raghavendra Rao, Christoph Storz.

India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) is an independent, nationwide philanthropy, professionally managed, and dedicated to strengthening the arts in India. They support research and practice leading to films, books, artworks, archives, exhibitions and performances; help to bring the arts into the classroom; fund the preservation and transmission of valuable cultural knowledge. They also offer advice, information and expertise related to the Indian arts.