Variegated Vista : Painting Sculpture and Printmaking in Post Independence Uttar Pradesh is much more than a prized coffee table adoration. The book is a connoisseur’s delight, unfolding the artistic pursuits of Uttar Pradesh from the beginning of twentieth century until now, comprehensively brought about through a meticulously performed research work.
The painstakingly researched treatise has reined in and consolidated a vastly scattered and lost, domain of artists as well as their works, thus culminating in a picturesque presentation in print from portraying an ensemble of the complete panorama of the multihued art of U.P. to include for first time the oft overlooked and set aside works, that needs to be seen, to be enjoyed.
It is a pioneering effort, that while presenting a wholesome kaleidoscopic view of art of this region, it gently allows art lovers to wade through the timeline experiencing the steady evolution from an agrarian folk culture and traditional, hierarchical mindset to the state of present day experimentalism and innovation. The evolutionary process captures the multifarious culture of this state reflected in its art; as to how artists from the farthest corners of India have come, settled here and enriched its art by a grand pouring of their own traditions to ultimately evolve synergies of a versatile kind. Interestingly, artists migrating from the region here remained connected with their roots, while they pitched themselves to make a mark and create their own identity in the global arena of present day art.
Carefully researched, well documented and richly Illustrated with 601 coloured and black and white photographs, this book through its 512 pages, with an eye for detail, presents the pursuits of artists in the realm of painting, sculpture and printmaking, who evolving from strength to strength absorbed the changing trends, to emerge with art forms having their own distinct identity. These attributes and many others render this book, both a rich treasure for art scholars’ references and the discerning art lovers’ prized possession.
At times what starts as a mere curiosity coaxing one to be inquisitive to know more and more about any sphere that is close to one's heart and soul transforms itself into a passion. This longing in turn manifests itself as a mad passion that robs one of even sleep, refusing to allow one to be at peace with oneself till this curiosity is fully and truly settled. One such curiosity took hold of me, too sometime in 1999 when I came to Lucknow to settle down, after my retirement from a Postgraduate College of Aligarh where I served as a Reader in "Drawing and Painting."
Somewhere in some corner of my subconscious must have lingered this curiosity to know more than I already did, about the art and artists of the Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, where many years ago I had wished to study. I had read about some of these artists working in the Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, but there didn't seem to be much that could be found in the books of Indian Art.
Now that I was in Lucknow there was nothing to stop me from realizing this mission of meeting artists and pouring over their works. I was awestruck both by the volume of work turn out, as well as the aesthetic quality of each and every rendering. I was pained when realization dawned on me that hardly any researched documentation existed neither on these treasures of art nor the artists who nurtured it through the ages. I realized the vast emptiness of knowledge that abounded in respect of evolution, maturing, growth and spread of this distinguished feature of art and artists of Uttar Pradesh, which in reality has had such a long glorious history of art, stretching from traditional to modern.
The decision was made. A daunting task lay ahead of me. There was no looking back till I restored these treasures to their exalted position where they rightfully belonged. The primary task was the institution of a massive survey encompassing the identification, collection and piecing together of a large quantum of scattered material comprising pertinent details that threw light over these grand works of art so as to generate the overall whole picture eliminating to the maximum possible extent missing links while making up logically for the remaining. The execution of this ambitious project meant meticulous planning augmented by relevant financial support to sustain it till its completion. Therefore, I resolved to take up this good cause and approached the UGC where I made a full-fledged presentation of the project 'Art in Uttar-Pradesh Post - Independence Period' before an expert committee. Much to my dismay I found them to be closed to the facts I put forth but instead maintained their rigid positions based on their own existing beliefs. In fact, one member even remarked that there is no art in Uttar Pradesh, directing at me a point blank question: "Can you tell me of any one attribute of art of this region?" I did not know what to say to this. I was quite unnerved by this blunt attitude, which was not expected to come from such an august gathering even after my having presented the need to responsibly explore, bring forth and record this art truly belonging to this region which had unscrupulously been neglected. My project could not get the requisite approval.
Nevertheless, the more I thought about it the more convinced I was about the need to unravel and produce the truth about the evolution of art in Uttar Pradesh. Besides, some other facts stared right me in the face, like the existence of a very old Arts College at Lucknow and Faculty of Visual Arts in BHU Varanasi, which surely would have produced many artists of calibre. I felt duty bound as an artist, student, and teacher to pull out the art of Uttar Pradesh out of anonymity and restore it to its pristine stature.
I was determined that this being a just cause I needed to pursue it to its logical conclusion in the most responsible manner doing full justice to my profession as well as my love of art. I applied to the UGC for financial support for the Project in the years 2000, 2002 and 2004. The proposal finally got accepted for funding and I received the grant in 2006.
My belief that finally I would be able to prevail kept me going right through the intervening period till getting the grant, to continue with all preliminary base work of the project. Thus during this period I continued to meet veteran artists and scholars, taking their interviews and looking over their original works as well as those in prints. Within just a short span of time I realized how right I was from "day one" that an immense treasure of art was right here in Uttar Pradesh just waiting to be discovered, collected, documented so that all could gauge the invaluable art heritage that the region possessed. As for myself, I was overjoyed that I could put my vision into the formative action of recording, documenting, and presenting this researched compilation in a well-illustrated format delivering a volume of 'Art in Uttar-Pradesh Post - Independence Period'. This volume would present in right perspective the traditional and modern art prevalent in Uttar Pradesh tracing its evolution, spread and growth with focus on art as well as artists who were instrumental in its evolution to its present exalted state.
Like elsewhere in India artists in Uttar Pradesh too can be classified into three prime categories. First, are those who studied art and continued to live here as teachers as well as freelance artists. Some moved to Delhi, Rajasthan and Bihar in search of a livelihood and in a broader perspective to establish themselves as creative artists; some others came from distant corners of the country, settled here and thereby enriched the artistic treasure of this region.
Very much like its heterogeneous political entity, the art of Uttar Pradesh too presents a vista of varied influences, inspiration and an effect culminating in a regional culture that portrays that its uniqueness lies in its diversity.
The main centres of artistic activities are Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Dehradun (now in Uttarakhand), Meerut, Agra, Aligarh, Kanpur and Gorakhpur besides some other small pockets.
Art here has a spiritual, mystical and metaphysical rather than a materialistic leaning somehow converging into portrayal of a deep-rooted culture of Hindu-Muslim coexistence. Now modernity with its mechanization seems to be slowly trying to encroach into what till now was in traditional domain. Although a silent tussle seems to be underway, the longing for a peaceful and restful life still persists. This dilemma is candidly reflected in the art forms of today that do subtly register a protest against this ruthless mechanization. Conclusively the art of Uttar Pradesh over its period of evolution is a heterogeneous amalgamation of tradition and modernity. This was ractified by numerous interviews of both veteran and young artists, which showed that with their deep-rooted personal convictions they have made bold attempts to carve out a niche for themselves to reflect their ideologies.
The art of Uttar Pradesh has consistently exhibited a dynamic trend of blending progressively with history. In the Post-Independence era it was definitely affected by the winds of change that ushered in internationalism, modernization and mechanization. With the proliferation of knowledge of Western modem art and styles the local craftsmen too tried to merge these into their traditional art in their own way.
Fine craftsmanship, love for watercolours, wash and tempera technique has been the hallmark of their work. They have also followed its effects in oil and acrylic mediums. Wash painting was first begun in Bengal and came to UP through Asit Kumar Haldar, Bireswar Sen and Kshitindra Nath Majumdar. Their disciples developed its delicate and sombre wash effects using them to explicitly bring out the deep, profound and mystical concepts and fantasies expressed in their art. Size always has an impact of its own and UP artists have worked in this arduous technique up to the size of 6'x3' with full command and excellence. The effects of limitless expanses, multifarious drama of human life with social and personal expressions, and fathomless depths of spirituality have been depicted through it.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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