PICTURE SPEAK

RESTORING TRADITION: Works at the exhibition

MUMBAI Intricately patterned textile pieces in traditional art techniques from Kutch will be on display at "Resurgence-Stories of an Earthquake, Survival and Art" from January 21 to February 8. Eleven participating artisans and co-operatives from Kutch have created 22 narrative works using tie and dye, namda, embroidery, weaving, painting and appliqué. Each piece tells the story of survival and the artisan's hopes and dreams for the future. For example, a namda piece by Yusuf Mansuri, one of the few artisans practising this art form, depicts a Hindu funeral procession while a doctor attends a patient in a temporary shelter with animals wandering in the background. Mansuri writes that the destruction was so sudden that many people did not even get a proper cremation; the animals indicate that life eventually goes on. Ali Mohmed Isha, with his black and red bandhani dupatta has revived an ancient Kutch technique of "writing" with dots on cloth. The award winning artisan has "written" his story of sorrow and survival through this textile. "Resurgence is testimony to the artisans who have worked under duress to create their unique pieces so that the stories of the disaster could be heard all over the world," says Carole Douglas, an art educator and curator of the exhibition. Several textile centres such as Bhujodi, Dhamadka and Anjar suffered enormous damage during the earthquake which tore through Gujarat in 2001. Douglas compiled this collection to raise funds for the artisans who were affected by this earthquake. Most of the exhibitors had lost their families, workshops and homes in the disaster and narrate their experiences through their works. The exhibition is the first major showing of Resurgence in India, three years after it opened at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum in Sydney in 2003. Resurgence opens at the Premchand Roychand Gallery at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay in Mumbai on January 21

-By Aditi Pai

PICTURE SPEAK

Seba by Praneet Soi

DELHI Praneet Soi, 25, returns home with some acrylic canvasses, doodles and photographs of a Rembrantian landscape. Claiming eclectic inspirations-from Indian miniatures to Dutch masters-for his conceptual canvasses, Soi is most successful in large iconographic works like Seba with its resonances of the first century Christian martyr, St Sebastian, who has been painted by hundreds of artists from Piero della Francesca downwards. Having anchored himself at Amsterdam, Soi paints his Seba after St Sebastian by Dirck Van Baburen (1623), a northern Caravaeggisti baroque painter. However, eschewing chiaroscuro (the effect of light and shadow started by the Italian master Caravaggio and later developed by Dutch masters), Soi's use of flat strong coloured backgrounds is more reminiscent of a very desi Manjit Bawa than any European master. He also paints Irene, inspired by Bathsheba with King David's Letter by Rembrandt (1654). Coincidentally it was St Irene who tended to St Sebastian when he was shot by the archers of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. But this coincidence is perhaps reading too much into Soi's enigmatic portraits.

-By S. Kalidas

PICTURE SPEAK

One of Mehra's images

DELHI Amit Mehra has experimented with various genres of photography. After doing ad campaigns and books, he now presents "His Signatures" depicting his existence in the ambiguity of the lone ravine stretch. His images capture wind swept silhouettes on sand and water kissing the earth. The visuals are seamless and the imprints on sand make a lasting impression. Check it out. From January 25-31. At Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

PICTURE SPEAK

Dutt and Abraham

ZINDA
Director: Sanjay Gupta
Starring: Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham

Bollywood writer Robin Bhatt once defended himself against charges of blatantly copying Hollywood films with: "My genius lies in knowing what to steal." Perhaps the same can be said for Gupta who has made a career out of transcribing foreign films into Hindi. His latest, a reworking of South Korean director Chan-wook Park's Oldboy is easily his best plagiarised work. Oldboy is a relentlessly bleak revenge drama with dollops of violence, gore and incest thrown in. Gupta doesn't hold back the blood. Teeth are extracted with a hammer, body parts are gift-wrapped and in one scene, a power-drill is used effectively. The grainy, saturated cinematography adds to the gritty effect. The actors are in fine form, especially Dutt. The story-telling is tight. But Gupta cops out on the incest and viewers must be content with a lame-duck reunion. In Park's version, hell was forever.

-By Anupama Chopra

PICTURE SPEAK

Bachchan

Mafia Mess
FAMILY: TIES OF BLOOD
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aryeman

-By Kaveree Bamzai

Pronunciation: b-gt. Function: noun. A small handbag shaped like a narrow bread loaf.

Inspired by the long French loaf, this bag has been a favourite for brands from Fendi to Prada. In fact, it has long been associated with the nearly 75-year-old Italian brand Fendi which initially built its reputation on furs. In 1997, it hit the big time with the launch of the baguette. The Fendi Baguette is now an iconic accessory available in a whole range of colours, materials and costs. According to Fendi lore, only three people in the world, a trio of Florentine artists, have the expertise to make it. Exclusive and how!

Bikinis: The flavour of the new calendar season. Try out Malini Ramani's Bikini Kingdom at nightspot Congo in Goa.

Guess's new Animal Instinct watch collection: If animal print apparels are in, can accessories be far behind?

Tsunamika: Cloth dolls made by fisherwomen from tsunami ravaged areas-a presentation by Upasana Design Studio.

Shrugs: The coolest in winterwear, they are one of the season's hottest trends. Also try the mini cape and short bolero jacket for style. Check out Moschino for variety.

Vinotheques: The latest in wine libraries with great music. Juhu's Bohemia is high on both our and Time magazine's rolls.

Belly button studs: Everyone has one. But the new "in" thing is the waist chain, preferably thin and in silver.

J-Lo style sweat suits: Not everyone can be a Jenny from the Bronx with the bling to match. Lose the sweats, girls.

-Compiled by Kimi Dangor

Index