Celebrated Odishan Master Painter Baladev Maharatha

 

His forefathers were operating with the weapons the Paik (warrior sect of Odisha) militia has been using in order to combat atrocities and to prevent intruders. The swords and daggers are still preserved in his household as the objects of worship which reminds the past warrior jugglery. But he left the weapons for worship and replaced them with paint, brush and palate. He also imbibed the nuances of the earthy smell of his village soil, the soil once smeared with the blood of the enemy. What he exactly imbibed? He osmoticised the forms on to his mind and his creative pursuit could metamorphose in to various realistic creations with the fluidity and mastermind. The outcome is nothing but his heightening of expressive capability. Periods of crisis especially seam to produce an artist like him and he could channel the anxieties of his time in to his work. Once the personality of an artist is admitted as a factor determining the character of his work of art is well defined. His creativity could function more and more openly as a means of self revelation though he opts for a formalist aesthetics, he could reverse the modernist evolution towards increasingly pure form. His realistic look towards his art is always having a postmodernist sub current within beyond. He is none other than art educator, painter, poet and visualizer. As Baladev’s paintings are having lucid lines and soothing paints some of his literary friends opined that his drawing and pointing are purely poetics so his creations are nothing but lucid poetry. One of his literary friends named him as Chitradev a befitting alias.

His mind never stepped in to endemic sphere, rather he is always exploiting the vastness and magnificence of Indian art, architecture and culture at large. He always creates the established notions and concepts that the piece of art achieves a universal appeal. His distinction is his Odishan flavor with the contemporary mullein and his strokes are dedicatedly distinct and meaningful.

The evolutionary process of Baladev Maharatha have passed through several phases like portraying the Shakti or Mother Goddess Durga on the suspicious day of Durga Mahastami in Dussehera festival day every year from which his creative pursuits could gather tremendous momentum. His profiles of Sadhus(sages), Mother’s with the supreme creations, transforming the verses of medieval poetry like Kalidas’s Ritu Samhara, the male chauvinistic attitude towards the devadasi cult and 108 forms of Lord Ganapati are some of his important series.

His training in art started with Khallikote Art college in Odisha and Then he made his masters in History from Utkal University. He had his special training in fresco painting from late Prof. Sukhamay Mitra, Viswabharati. But his first teacher in art is his mother who could allure him to lines and colors when he was only 5 years old. Her mother was her first admirer of his creation. When he topped the list of the entrance examination to be a student of art in khallikote Art College his family could fell his potency. As he was born and brought up in a rural set-up so his inclination towards the mundane things of life are acute and authentic. He observes conceives and depicts which are the three phases for any creativity, be it performing, visual or plastic art. His mindset could acutely imbibed the rural conceptual motifs and his depictions are always smelling earthy.

His Sadhu(sages) series is the outcome of his intimately intermingling with Indian and Odishan sages. It is not the iconography depicted it is the inner psyche culminated in to well crafted canvases.

His mother series transforms the motherly rearing in to a stupendous convention and his woman takes the form of Janani ( the mother), Bhagini (the sister) and Jaya (the wife).

Baladev is having deep acquaintances with Vedic literature, philosophy and medieval poetry. He took the finer elements from all these texts and transforms the calligraphy in to visual art. His renderings are so exact and soothing that the poetic lines are enlivened with paint and brush. The onlooker assimilates the jugglery of the poetry through the vibrantly colored canvases . He has transformed the poetic lines of Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja, the colossal medieval Oriya poet and his Kavya "Koti Brahmanda Sundari" could give vent to exclusively painted canvasses. With a deep sense of Kali Das’s poetry he could thought of the projection. So with magnanimously painted canvasses on Ritu Samhar and Meghadoota Kavya he had his solo exhibition in Orissa Modern Art Gallery where he had his mind and soul put together to provide vigor and strength to his superb creations from where one can feel the poetic fragrament. He is so meticulous that he portrayed the black mole on the check of the Nayika to the long drooping drapery so eloquently that the intricate poetry gets transformed to visual art from. Here the poetic nuances are bewitchingly depicted without any inhibitions. This transformation of these lyrical interpretations on to canvass was first of its kind for the viewers. Hence the literary personalities, intellectuals and critics had rave reviews for these creations as the interpretation is as powerful as the original Sanskrit verses created by great poet Kali Das

Baladev then looked in to portraying Ganapati on to the canvasses. He has manifested Ganesh with many a from in to his canvass on board. Here he has experimented with variety of textures, figures and forms taking the mythical antecedents in to account. Ganesh icons has not been transformed in to total abstraction rather the forms are akin to realistic but never realistic. The sources of inspiration for the painter are meticulously taken from the mythical renderings. So also the space at times encloses the artistic creativity quite effectively with the texture of the subject.

In the year 2007, Delhi based Ashok Art Gallery has showcased his works at the National Capital, in India Habitat Centre New Delhi entitled Dejected Dusk. The theme was Deva Dasi tradition taken as a symbol of femininity temple dancing tradition and a male chauvinistic attitude towards the Devadasis. In a review of the said exhibition, Thea Walstra from the Netherlands commented like this. Over all I am very much impressed by the art of this very talented artist. Hi is able to introduce the world with the symbols of the ancient, incredible India in a very interesting way. At the same time his work shows the globalization of the world and that times are changing, the world I understand and know. I think he has built a bridge in his art connecting, the present India with the modern world. At the same time he is introducing the rich tradition of the ancient India with all the symbols and visual glory.

In the human psyche the male chauvinistic attitude is a perennial concept. In the epical descriptions, the female has always been portrayed as a commodity of enjoyment and the beastly lust always engulfs the feminine sector. Never she has been regarded as the part and parcel of the supreme creation literally but regarded proverbially. But she is always forgotten as the sculptor of life embodiment. In the historical depictions, though there are feministic heroism still the exploitation is optimum. With this current bazaar culture femininity has been commoditized. So Baladev kept the above in mind and he could present the exhibition as a soothing heal for feminism and the real attitude is depicted with paint and canvasses. The exhibition got rave reviews.

Baladev is the only painter who had collaborated with the other avenues of art with his painting and the simultaneous process is known as Yugal Vandi. He had his brush swiftly draw the strokes on canvas while Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia had his music recital with flute. Baladev also painted to the recitation of the popular odia poem Kadanba-Katual by Prof. Dr.Ajay Swain. Then he also painted to the recitations of the poems of Vidyapati a Medieval poet of Mithila in Bihar. It made the spectators spell bound by seeing the use of the brush with quite speedy acceleration. As spiritualism is his soul, he also had another Jugalbandi with Odishi dance recital by eminent dancers and vocal music of "Gita Govinda". on the stage, the visual art form slowly but caringly transformed the performing Art on to a huge canvas in a very limited span of time in the esteemed presence of Gajapati Divyasingh Dev and Sri T.K.Mishra, The chief Secretary, Govt. of Orissa and the huge gathering could applaud this joint venture of creativity.

Baladev Maharatha teaches in B.K. College of Art and Crafts in the capacity of a Professor. He is the head of department Painting in Indian Style. Many a students of his are now established artists. He takes his pupils as friends or brothers and under his tutelage the pupils get a chance to learn the intricacies from their Master Teacher. Many a students of his are not beyond his super influence.

Baladev, not only a lover of poetry, but he is a poet himself. His flowing lines of poetry could allure his readers like his paintings.Baladev is a person with a love for nature and he has planted number of trees and also participated in many a plantation programmes

He believes in. hard work as there is no substitute for hard work, "One needs to have dedication, inspiration and love for the work, make it a way of life and most importantly – seek divine blessings to be an artist. I am inspired by God and my studio is my home" he says.He has received Odisha Lalit Kala Academy award and also many golden feathers have been added to his silvery Cap.

The philosophers say that to paint is nothing but a yogic practice. The superb elevation of Baladev is due to his embracing the spiritual milieu intimately. His creations are therefore having the concealed spiritual norms and for which his paintings are noting beyond soul searching. A spiritual mind can only achieve this type of supreme creativity, he believes.

Baladev is a super human being who cares for all the living things and nonliving in this universe and passionately he loves the human being most. So his creation is always collectively humanitarian. His works are available at Ashok Art Gallery and next solo show will be organized at Delhi on December 2010.

Suresh Balabantray

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit Delhi

Art Expo India 2009 will act as a window to peep into Indian art and its growing Market

After a significant fall in art prices last autumn, domestic as well as international galleries are optimistic about the contemporary art market. Experts predict a sooner than expected, however, a gradual recovery.

According to ArtTactic, a market research firm, the market sure has strengthened after a noticeable drop in average prices for contemporary Indian art at the recent auctions (roughly 76% during the period of September 2008 and March 2009). Average auction prices for Indian art are currently at around $24,536, up from the lows of $13,827 in March 2009.

In an effort to add momentum to the recovery, Art Expo India 2009 is bringing together the country's largest fine and popular art galleries, art dealers, artists, experts and art publishers. Apart from thousands of quality art works by Indian artists, it will include international galleries that will bring works from their top . Art Expo India 2009, in a way, provides art investors and collectors a cross section of Indian and world art.

Their spontaneous response suggests that most exhibitors are keen on showing their best works in the financial capital of India. They want to use the fair as an opportunity to develop a network, add to their contacts, enhance collaborations and gauge the mood of the domestic market.
From 25‐27th September 2009, the cosmopolitan financial capital of India, Mumbai will be hosting the celebrated Indian contemporary Art Expo. Leading Indian and nternational art galleries will be taking part in this event. The Art Expo promises to be a significant cultural and social event in the Indian Subcontinent. The discussions at the Art Expo feature prominent international art world personalities including Kay Saatchi, Judith Greer, Princess Tatjana zu Schaumburg‐Lippe, Kirsty Ogg and many other Museum curators, consultants and collectors. Now in its 2nd year, it is the largest art fair devoted to modern and contemporary Indian Art. Organised at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai, this year’s show exhibits a wide mix of cutting edge, eclectic and exciting art works. A series of interactive conversations with experts will demystify the language & knowledge of art to visitors.
The Art Expo India is a high profile meeting ground for art dealers, galleries, artists and collectors. This expo has popularised Indian contemporary art across cultural, social and economical boundaries in India and internationally and plays a catalytic role in building a market for contemporary Indian art both in India and globally. It is a high end shopping event presenting a wide array of works by famous and upcoming Indian artists. Publishers, dealers and gallery owners will showcase cutting edge work in different media ‐ from paintings and sculpture to prints and photography. The exhibition holds the largest gathering of art professionals in India and is the only place where one can meet thousands of new collectors and artists on a one‐to‐one basis.
Over 10,000 art lovers including collectors, buyers and corporate decision makers, high net worth individuals, leading Indian business families, CXOs from different multinationals and celebrities from Bollywood will be attending this prestigious social event in the Indian art calendar.
Featured Speakers at the EXPO Kay Saatchi will be delivering the keynote on spotting young talent and building up an art collection.

Some of the other renowned and featured speakers are:
1. Judith Greer ‐ International art collector and author
2. Kirsty Ogg ‐ Co‐Curator of The White chapel gallery
3. Ranjit Hoskote – Contemporary Indian poet, art critic, cultural theorist and
independent curator
4. Jitish Kallat – Dynamic and acclaimed worldwide, Indian Contemporary artist.
5. Sharan Apparao ‐ India’s leading contemporary art gallerists producing
exhibitions in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai
6. Menaka Kumari Shah – Christies Representative for India
7. Dr. Alka Pande – Consultant Art Advisor, Curator of Visual Arts Gallery at the
India Habitat Centre in New Delhi and a prolific writer on Indology and art history
and author of several well‐acclaimed books.
8. Satish Manashinde ‐ Renowned lawyer
9. Anjolie Ela Menon – India’s leading contemporary female artist. Her paintings
are in several major collections
10. Bose Krishnamachari – Famous multi‐disciplinary artist who has exhibited in
numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally
11. Shantanu Poredi – Renowned architect. Designed many interesting international
and Indian projects
12. Rajshree Pathy – Eminent entrepreneur and businesswoman and Art
Connoisseur
Visitors will include art collectors, connassiours, architects and interior designers, buyers and corporate decision makers. These important visitors will be specially invited to attend the show. At least 20,000 quality visitors are expected.

Exhibitors of ART EXPO INDIA 2009

Apparao Galleries Madras, ICIA Mumbai, Sakshi Mumbai, Latitude 28 Delhi, Jolrong.com Singapore / Bangladesh, Indian Art Ideas Delhi , Dhoomimal Gallery Delhi, Art Musings Mumbai, Art Seefeld Switzerland, Gallery Beyond Mumbai, Ishka Cochin, Priyasri Art Gallery Mumbai, Sara Arakkal Banglore, Ashok Art Gallery Delhi, Gurgaon Art Centre Delhi, Art Inc Delhi, Wonderwall Delhi, Pink Ginger Arts, 1x1 Art Gallery Dubai, Marigold Fine Art Delhi
Despite the recession and the subsequent fall in prices, experts feel the market for fine art is still very strong, though not as hyped as it was a couple of years ago. Importantly, long term collectors want to use this phase to build on their portfolios. Especially, a host of investors-individual as well institutional- from European and American art circuit are looking to add Indian art to their collections. For many of them Indian art is still new. Art Expo India 2009 will act as a window for them to peep into Indian art

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists.
Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Indian Art Market News, the first Indian Art Fair reviews

The recent Art Summit was the Indian art scene’s attempt to climb a new rung in its international aspirations.

astounding 10,000 art enthusiasts walked in to witness India’s First International Art Fair, India Art Summit(TM) 2008, firmly establishing it as a one stop destination for art in India. With an overwhelming mix of art collectors, artists, critics, curators, students and art enthusiasts from across India and overseas, the Summit achieved exactly what it set out to - making art, and the knowledge of art, accessible to a widespread audience.Commercially speaking, the fair clocked in a record sale of approximately 50%, with the 34 participating galleries selling over 280 artworks worth Rs.10 crores approximately. Given that the total value of the 550 artworks on display was approximately Rs. 20 crores, India Art Summit has emerged as one of the most successful first editions of any art fair across the world.With all eyes now on India, event producers Hanmer MS&L, have announced plans to schedule India Art Summit 2009 between 19th - 22nd August’ 2009 in New Delhi. Next year, the fair is proposed to be over three times bigger and applications are already pouring in from across India and world. While in the first year, the focus was largely on Indian art and Indian galleries, the second year will see participation from galleries across the world showcasing a sizeable array of artworks from different parts of the world.
Ashok Art Gallery is a five-yearold Delhi gallery that largely functions online. A mom-and-pop operation with a handful of unknown artists, Ashok Art Gallery has never had any exposure in the media. Their only previous art fair experience was with the Mumbai art expo earlier this year. As one among 35 galleries that participated in the recent India Art Summit (between August 22 and 25), Ashok Art Gallery did not expect to become frontpage news. But their 27-year-old Oriya artist Kanta Kishore’s marble sculptures of rolled-up newspapers were sold within hours of the fair’s opening. Gallerists Ashok Nayak and Kavita Vig, Kavita’s husband Bharat and septuagenarian mother-in-law watched astonished as the art young Indian superstar Subodh Gupta and politician Maneka Gandhi came to their stall. And in their wake, thousands of visitors and the press.Sculptures and installations sold almost as well as paintings, signalling a new trend. The panel of speakers and choice of topics at the Art Forum also drew many accolades and was deemed as amongst one of the best such initiatives of its kind, internationally.
Mr. Sunil Gautam, Managing Director, Hanmer MS&L commenting on the fair said, “It is great to see that India Art Summit has emerged as the most inclusive collaborative art platform in India in it’s very first year. We believe that this initiative is a step in the right direction to put India on the global art fair circuit.”Commenting on the success of the fair, Mr. Philip Hoffman, Chief Executive, The Fine Art Fund said “The Indian market is very important in the global art scene and this fair is a major step. I can imagine this to be major fair in Asia competing alongside London, Miami and Basel in the next 5-10 years. The sales results of the fair seemed very impressive by comparison to other fairs in their first year.”India Art Summit - BackgrounderThe art fraternity in India has for long felt a gap and the need for a collaborative industry platform in the country owing to the phenomenal growth and global interest in Indian art. While the art fraternity the world over gets numerous opportunities to interact and collaborate through various art fairs, biennales & expos, there was no such platform in India. Therefore the time was right for India to offer a suitable platform for art. The initiative has received invaluable recognition and endorsement from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Sotheby’s.The Summit hopes to achieve the dual purpose of, on one hand, serving as a window for International collectors to get a single access point to Indian art and, on the other, exposing the Indian collectors to a range of global Art that will be showcased at the fair in the coming years. More than just a place for buying and selling art, this initiative will enable diverse stakeholders from India and around the world to come together and discuss the creative and commercial aspects of Indian art.Today, Indian art is greatly appreciated both internationally and within the country, annually growing at 30-35%, the Indian art market is currently worth Rs 1500 crores. The Indian art market has gone up by 485 percent in the last decade making it the fourth most buoyant art market in the world. The total auction market size of Indian art has changed from US $5 million in 2003 - just five years back - to nearly US $150 million this year.







The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Artexpo India 2008 Mumbai

Artexpo India 2008 is going to be a high profile meeting ground for art dealers, galleries, artists and prospective buyers. This exhibition will play a catalystic role in building the art market in India . The art market is in an expansion phase of its own. Artexpo India 2008 will help to expand the buyer network by creating recognition built on trust and confidence. Visitors will include collectors, buyers and corporate decision makers and HNI's. These important visitors will be specially invited to attend the show. At least 10,000, quality visitors are expected. Non-invitees would have to purchase the show visitors directory before entering the fair . Mumbai has been chosen as the location for Artexpo India 2008 as it is the premier art market of the country and also the home of well known individual and corporate art collectors. As a city it has the highest per capita income and is also the highest tax paying region in India.

At Stall no - 15 you will find Ashok Art Gallery, a place for hunting some quality works from all the young fine art stars like Pratul Dash, Binoy Varghese, Sajal Patra,Veejayant Dash, Debashish Chakraborty, Anasuya Chakraborty, Jenson Anto, Pradosh Swain, Dharmendra Rathore, Baladev Moharatha, Sanjoy Bose, Amna Ilyas, Tapan Dash, Bibhu Patnaik, Sunita Anand Rao, Anup Kumar Chand,Somanath Raut, Kanta Kishore and Gadadhar OJHA.

ASHOK ART GALLEY – THE NEW HOME OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Website : http://www.ashokartgallery.com/

Email : ashokartgallery@gmail.com

STALL NO - 15

Expo - Center the exhibition hall of World Trade Centre,

Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.

Dates: March 14th - 16th 2008

Time: 11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.