Give and Take in Art

Artists Residency

Give and Take in art between Holland and India started in 1997. My thoughts rolled over the process of learning and practising as an artist and poet in a foreign country. Being a painter, sculptor, printmaker and poet was diverse enough to roll out my thoughts to organise artistic activities between thw East and the West.

Basically I am the last corner of the square where I could meet and reflect myself. I complete the square me too. 23 years ago, after completing a 5-year academic education in Applied Arts from Mumbai, I landed in Holland to learn painting and to pursue my artistic endeavours, by adhering to the Dutch way of looking and understanding European Art at the Dutch Academy. Today I have invited artists who are 25 year younger than me and also college mate who was a witness to my formative years as an artist in India.

World has changed a lot according to me and around. Drastic changes have taken place. It has been changing always, no matter what the circumstances are, but speed of change is geared in a flying mood. In field of art, the methods and medium have developed a new sky-space, called cyber space. Technology innovated solutions to problems of methods and systems. Innovators served the purpose of mankind to work in better environment. Moving offices adding dramatic theatre spaces to step in. Interiors of living rooms surfaced the elements that make person feel more comfortable at home. Spiritual thirst began to seek silence in informational space. Sound and visual brought together to create another planet of neighbours. Computer unit is yours buddy and Internet connection are strings of your guitar or sitar, you google Alladdin’s lamp to enter Alibaba’s cave.

Skyscraper mushrooms in clouds and metros are running underneath cities where monuments ageing their foundation laid centuries and centuries ago. New towns emerging global prosperous cities in a short period. Developments to introduce talented methods that would implement long time solutions. Speed called Concorde has shown human disaster and called off the journey. Man seems satisfied? No. Fuel of Thirst and urge of travel brings him disastrous fields to meet his mistakes. Shall he stop to travel in circumstances of dangerous zone?

Artist himself is a fruit of evolving culture and his art is the fragrance of his creative input. Critically may be melted static object that Salvador Dali has shown in his surrealistic images speaks volumes. It is a process of societal transformation. What happens when common man travels to tourist destinations? And an artist travels to his willing destination. Need to see a new world and seeking of inspirational fields is very much in common. But eye of a artist has something different than a common man. Obtaining experience is surely not the criteria, but outcome of journey is self-education to both of them and great contribution to the society.




Give and take in art is the concept that I in my surroundings makes me think about others. Process of development studied in history of Arts. What should I think about myself ? Was it a possibility to develop within limitations of border? Amusing past is a matter to enjoy being in one situation. Place third person in same situation, one may not share the same kind of experience but his own field of interest gives wider view to him and me. I like to share the experience not as teacher but as a companion. Showing ones creativity make someone more interested in his evolving process, his thoughts and views about surroundings and society.

World is full of hate and anger. Keeping up appearance is much interesting, who knows where humour ends and anger burns.

23 years is quite long period to obtain experience and stay in a foreign country and culture, as an artist who was not in a position to fulfil his educational wishes in foreign countries. So why not give opportunity to others, at least short visits and their joy to see original art works of Master painters and contemporary artists. As well as show his creativite side as a contemporary artist. Vice versa give them same opportunity in own culture also. There are government bodies who provides the platform. But bureaucratic hurdles are more higher than suspected in my experience. Financial limitations are highest priorities to fulfil wishes. Sponsorship world is very much shadowed. Areas of interests is very much limited to creative activities.

Still there are platforms who have shown interest to draw such kind of concept. ISS is one of them who support this concept and Stroom stimulates local artisst. Artimediair and Vaishwik take initiative to organize such kind of multicultural art activities on a regular basis.