.the bottom pic is the serene Himalaya ranges visible from the Chitkul village in Sangla valley.
Viktor Vijay contemporary Indian artist hosts on Modern contemporary art of India “If I had to choose between an erudite Aristotle and an unknown 'soulless' black slave I would choose the latter. .. "we are not what we appear but what appears from us." A new way to look at Indian and global art. Life is beautiful for we have a sense of beauty.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The wood architecture of Sarahan in Himachal
.the bottom pic is the serene Himalaya ranges visible from the Chitkul village in Sangla valley.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Travels in Kalpa, Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Sarahan
Nature is in Humans and Humans are the Nature! La belle femma
Sarahan.
As we drove up from Narkanda to Sarahan in higher Himachal we were greeted by this charming lady who was carting fresh fodder for the cattle. In simplicity, hospitality and stunning good looks few can rival Himachalis. India is and endless experience and one can not have enough of it ever. For me from the hot Tamilnadu where I had been camping regularly for my book on Pallava and Chola art this was the other end of very rich and stimulating experience.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tamil Temple art
Eroticism is a common thread that runs through temples not only in Tamil land but in rest of India from early times. While the spiritual aspect of gods is emphasized their sensual love is not underplayed in temple narratives.
Stucco: Erotic art Sarangapani Kumbakonam Tamil Nadu |
Kumbakonam:The town of Tamil temple art
The photo here is a small temple built on kulam of the temple. The colourful stucco gopuram has at it base a daily dose of posters. Here the guy is putting gum on the poster to stick it on the wall while the old man with staff is full of verve and watches the next change of film.
God and film star: Kumbakonam Tamil Nadu |
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Great Art of Tamils: Stucco sculptures
Siva Natraja Temple gopuram Chidambram |
Friday, January 27, 2012
India art Fair 2012
Director Canvas Art Gallery Rakesh Gupta at Fair |
L to R Artist Shyam sherma, Dharmendra Rathod, Hem Raj, Pankaj |
Art Lovers |
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Chennai and former Madras I love
Homeless by outer Church wall Chennai |
After spending two and half months in Tamilnadu I was to take flight on Monday from Chennai. Since i arrived in Chennai on Saturday evening I decided to explore Chennai whole of Sunday. I arrived in the George town walked through Flower Bazaar, China Bazaar and surrounding areas. The life in these Bazaars is more quiet on a Sunday since all shops are closed and movement of people takes place.
A house for a Sunday--Chennai street |
Invoking God in the street Chennai |
Statue of king George v where families live with their sweet children in squalor |
Mothers n Children near king George V Statue Chennai |
Monday, January 9, 2012
The art of Tamils: Fragrance of Jasmine
What holds me in awe is great imagination creativity, freshness and unique art that the Tamils created. My focus is on visual fine arts from early period of Tamil history. Strewn throughout Tamilnadu in little known villages are great treasures of Tamil and therefore Indian art. There are problems of accessibility, transportation and basic infrastructure. But it is doubly or triply compensated by the love, affection and hospitality of common Tamils in beautiful small villages with uncommon warmth and desire to help and share. This honeyed land was called Tamilakam from early Sangam Era and is so charming to behold, full of magic and ever-inviting in its matchless beauty.
It is a long haul to ingest the artistic landmarks in painting, murals, stuccoo, stone and bronze sculptures, and temple architecture of Pandya, Chera, Chola and Pallavas. But then it is immense joy to immerse in this great art of Tamils.
Viktor Vijay
8th Janurary 2012
Monday, October 24, 2011
Pitalkhora, Ajanta and Ellora--the Art of ancient India
Next I moved to Ajanta in Maharastra to savour yet again the great murals and sculptures from Satavahana and Vakataka period.
Further away to Ellora where a spent three days (not enough for my studies.
A rare mural from Pitalkhora Caves
Ajanta Murals--the golden height of Indian art
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A question to Niall Ferguson-- did slavery and Colonialism of 'Christian' West not devavour the Rest?
Later the onslaught of proselytizing white 'Christianity' subsumed under Rome the singular right to be 'Christian Church'. Even now the Christianity is projected as a Western religion, which is not true--neither Jesus nor the earliest practioners were Western. It was the Byzantium and the Eastern Church as also the Syrian Christians and other Eastern strains that propagated Christianity as non-racist. But the dominance of Roman Church (and later Anglican Church in Colonies like India) brought about a racial stranglehold of Christianity and it did not dither in making Western White 'Christian' Man as a model of the 'Humanity' while helping to decimate other cultures in Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa. The Idea of God as monotheistic is not dangerous but the danger is in fascistic forcing others to 'One particular monotheistic God' to the exclusion of others--polytheistic or monotheistic.
I rebut Niall Ferguson's
Civilization: The West and the Rest
self-gloating Western superiority hereunder from my book Mona Lisa does not smile anymore (ISBN 978-81-8465-512"The voyages of exploration were the dawn of Racialism and Colonialism. In the year 1600, the Indian economy amounted to 22.54 per cent of the world GDP, while
It is clear West climbed over the bodies of the Rest to attain material surpluses that through Cos like East India Company ushered in development of West from the loot of the Rest.
The complete lack of moral unease in subjugating so many and killing no less through slave shipping, indentured labour, Colonization and a Church that helped in these grand ventures of the West is what Ferguson's book tries to white wash. The writings of likes of Ferguson are unabashed revival of Colonialism in the garb of (partisan) academics of the West. His arguments smack of blatant racism. But so much is dark and gory under the white loaded brush of West that Ferguson can not whitewash it.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
http://victor-vijay.blogspot.com/2011/03/whitehot-magazine-of-contemporary-art_21.html
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Cultures and art of the East--India
"Some day the history of colonization and slavery of the world would be written by the progeny of the sufferers or by disinfected intellectuals of white race. Jesus who himself was not of white race would have felt pained and distressed in soul that in His name innocent humanity would first be demonized as heathen, barbarian and then be ‘civilized’ through a demonic clergy, colonial master act and slave trading ‘Christians’ for 500 long years."
Painting by Viktor vijay from book Mona Lisa does not smile anymore
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Art Reveal-- contemporary Indian Art n artists: Mona Lisa does not smile anymore- art of India
yes
Mona Lisa does not smile anymore- art of India
In Goa and
The writings of missionaries are replete with words like heathen, barbarians, and proselytizing was the reason for deprecating all that was Indian culturally and in religion. It was a fresh assault on
On all graves howsoever old flowers grow
But do not forget those, who lie beneath
So called Renaissance brought tremendous suffering, relocation, destruction of ways of life, culture, death, loss of freedom, disease, insults, loss of economic means of survival, for Asia and others.
The number of people killed and those who lost their freedom were in millions and the mercantilist greed and religious bigotry of Christendom of the time played an important and decisive role in the tale of horror.
Friday, March 11, 2011
artists and their art In present--good bad and indifferent
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Why Picasso has his finger on the 21st century's pulse
Monday, March 7, 2011
/www.lflblog.com/sothebys-contemporary (On Indian art market)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Chance Consciousness Art--A fresh foray in Indian art
I have tried to explicate my art philosophy and my present art in my book Mona Lisa does not smile anymore. The global context of my art is in the socio-cultural-religious philosophy of India that has religions that prohibit violence even to insects or violation of humanity. Mahatma Gandhi's life and philosophy was a sterling example of this inclusive culture. My art is contextual to a belief in higher order of universe that humans call 'Chance' and an inner certitude based on a higher consciousness. Through art we search for a higher purer Man. The German Expressionism denigrated by Hitler and Fascists confronted us with the uglier side of humanity. Otto Dix was a great savant of this art. Living for few weeks in Dresden I was confronted by his Der Krieg (The War) triptych in Neue Meister and it rattled me to my guts. My art is obliged to German Expressionism for laying bare the uglier side of humanity. it was perfect for me therefore to seek out Abstract Expressionist Georg Brandner of Styria Austria to open my recent exhibition CHANCON Art in Delhi.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Indian art a fresh look--Mona Lisa does not smile anymore
'The art of
Indian art Market link http://www.lflblog.com/sothebys-contemporary/
Find my in depth study on contemporary Indian art market at http://www.lflblog.com/sothebys-contemporary/
Sunday, February 20, 2011
viktor vijay on Sotheby's and Ohio University web site
Dreaming Humanity (Viktor Vijay) contemporary Indian art
Friday, February 18, 2011
A book on Indian art--Mona Lisa does not smile anymore
Mona Lisa does not smile anymore
Excerpts from the book by Viktor Vijay Kumar
“If I had to choose between an erudite Aristotle and an unknown ‘soulless’ black slave I would choose the latter. The ascendancy of the West was on a heap of bodies of slaves and trampled humanity through colonization.”
“Slavery, Colonization, European Imperialism, corruption of Church, was the hall mark of Renaissance. Intolerance was another feature of so-called-Renaissance. Jew and Muslim communities were expelled from
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Chance-Consciousness Art CHANCON-Viktor Vijay's latest solo exhibition
I have been long thinking of a book alongside my present exhibition in Visual Art Gallery Habitat Centre Delhi India. Why not to talk of the philosophy and the personal journey in creating my art? While curators, and critics have there job cut out, why not to tell art lovers and people related to art what happens when i think, travel, feel, love and live myriad moods to my painting and creation. I went ahead--as I painted and took breaks I took my lap top and wrote--wrote in the moment fresh from the streaking, flowing colours on the canvas; colours searching their own joys on the surface. Awakening inner consciousness and throwing in the dice of 'Chance' on the canvas I arrive to artistic expression.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Mona Lisa does not smile anymore
I publish my new book on art of India and Europe alongside my solo exhibition of paintings at Studio Vasant at Visual Art gallery upto 12 Feb and from 13th to 28 Feb 2011 at Chadha Jagdev Farms Road No 3 Ghitorni Village New Delhi. The book published by Studio Vasant New Delhi is soon to be available in leading bookshops in India and is distributed nationally by Variety Book Depot New Delhi. the book is about the spirituality of art India and the art of the West specially the 'Renaissance' period. Art of India has a sterling holism and inclusiveness of humanity while Western art lingers. the secular elements are predominant feature of the temple art of India.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Austrian Landscapes
I saw one very beautiful sun bathed landscape in Gallery Etienne in New York. Attersee Lake in Austria had Klimt's Studio where he painted many beautiful landscapes in lovely summer and autumn light. Mr Ronald Lauder should be thanked for his love of fin de siecle Austrian art that he has created in beautiful building The Neu Galerie in New York. The Museum has a large body of erotic drawings from Egon Schiele. The most expensive painting by Klimt a portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer that was for long in Belvedere Museum in Vienna reverted back to the family and was acquired by Lauder and is proudly housed in Neue Galerie.
Long time in Austria and Germany has etched a joy in the summer-autumn landscapes that I always relish. Klimt was one such votary. My autumn series incidentally was also born in Austria in Salzburg. Staying in the atelier of my friend Eva Mazzucco I worked a splash and dots technique did abstracts in 2003-2004.
Viktor Vijay
Monday, March 9, 2009
A very long time back I lived and painted on an old boat anchored on Danube near Black sea in Romania. It was autumn and the landscape was a passionate rust, crimson and yellow ochre. It was magical to say the least. I was in communion with the landscape. At other times I would breathe in the autumn landscapes of Europe in Finland, Tatra Mountains in Slovakia and Poland, Styria in Austria, Alpine Piedmonte in Italy, France, and Hungry.
The senses are seduced by the proliferating warm colours as the leaves turn from cool green to life red, rust, brick, yellow-ochre, brown colours. Something happens to soul, it starts to sing, is inundates by a dazzling warmth and pleasantness. Autumn used as a metaphor run to life as well as death. Poets often use the negative metaphor but for visual artists autumn is the great celebration of the festival of colours of joy. By a quirky association I relate the red beard of Vincent Van Gogh in his famous self portrait (1887) to the red of autumn.
But is not the autumn the surfeit of rejuvenation. Do we not talk of the birth death rebirth cycle? Is the Resurrection of Jesus not an emblem of continuity of life and hope? So why be afraid of death? Paul Laurence Dunbar looks at autumn as a celebration and reason of joy—
The earth is just so full of fun
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Drawing---the soul of art
Drawing---the soul of art
Drawing is the structure which is embellished to create the edifice of painting. Drawing captures the genetic nuances of forms—their flow, rhythm, movement, composition, mood. Drawing is unifocal and is often based on lines or monochromes. Drawing in Asian tradition is an independent medium at par with painting. Chinese and Japanese techniques base on non-disruptive continuous strokes to render a mood or a stance. Zen drawings breathe on spiritual, meditative frugality and follow the dictum, ‘less is more’. Drawing brings our focus on inner fulcrum rather than outward as is often the case with vary chromed paintings. Drawing lifts our perception higher than the imminent sensorial cue.
The present exhibition has a wide spectrum of expression from Maestros and emerging talent in Indian art space. In terms of valuation a drawing is generally placed below paintings but higher up graphics and prints. Each drawing is a unique expression of the intent and exploration by an artist. Very many important/landmark paintings by great artists are based on the primary drawings. In 2008 while in New York City for my solo exhibition I savoured a fine collection of Gallery St.Etienne. Prominent among artists whose drawings were exhibited included Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka. Some of the drawings were the foundation of great works by these Maestros. The prices of the works ranged between 1to 2 million dollars. Kind and suave 85 year old gallery director Ms. Hildegard Bachert shared with me the history of some great paintings that were based on quite a few of the drawings.
In sum a good drawing may happen to cost very little to a collector initially but in time can acquire great value if it is path breaking or is basis of a great painting.
Viktor Vijay Kumar
2nd Feb.2009