06-09-2007, 09:15 PM
#64 is not relevant to this thread and will distract from the topic.
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The key to understand the contemporary Indian painting movement is the following;
- Its not derivative. Meaning it is not an imitation of the modern Western art. MFH clearly says that and gives its origins in the Bombay school of painting.
- Its main goal is to prevent Hindu revivalist painting in India. MFH in his Frontline interview lays out the goals and how and what they achieved. Six artists in six years stopped the whole revivaist school. They amde it uncool to paint Ravi Varma style of paintings. They did this by adopting the 'modern' idiom for their paintings. By this device they got the support of the liberals and the Well off Modern Indians as these folks felt they are furthering the 'Modernization ' of India from traditional Bharat.
- While the artists might be of different religions that is a secondary issue. The prime goal is to stop the revivalism in Hindu art. Hence all those 'modern' imagery being invoked and pushed.
To understand MFH one needs to understand the history of Telengana region from antiquity, well at least Mauryan times. just before 1947 Independence a political consciousness was being aroused in the people of Telengana in the rural areas. This found expression in Hindu revivalism in the arts and crafts of the rural areas. MFH must have noticed the impact when the rural takes up revivalism it could mean the end of "force of History'. That could also be a driver for his zeal in stopping the revivalist school of Ravi Varma.
.................................................
The key to understand the contemporary Indian painting movement is the following;
- Its not derivative. Meaning it is not an imitation of the modern Western art. MFH clearly says that and gives its origins in the Bombay school of painting.
- Its main goal is to prevent Hindu revivalist painting in India. MFH in his Frontline interview lays out the goals and how and what they achieved. Six artists in six years stopped the whole revivaist school. They amde it uncool to paint Ravi Varma style of paintings. They did this by adopting the 'modern' idiom for their paintings. By this device they got the support of the liberals and the Well off Modern Indians as these folks felt they are furthering the 'Modernization ' of India from traditional Bharat.
- While the artists might be of different religions that is a secondary issue. The prime goal is to stop the revivalism in Hindu art. Hence all those 'modern' imagery being invoked and pushed.
To understand MFH one needs to understand the history of Telengana region from antiquity, well at least Mauryan times. just before 1947 Independence a political consciousness was being aroused in the people of Telengana in the rural areas. This found expression in Hindu revivalism in the arts and crafts of the rural areas. MFH must have noticed the impact when the rural takes up revivalism it could mean the end of "force of History'. That could also be a driver for his zeal in stopping the revivalist school of Ravi Varma.