Visionary’s Vision

The Tribune
Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
By Ashima Sehajpal

Jatin Das, the famous artist, was in the city to lecture at the celebrations of D.M.S. Randhawa’s birth centenary at Government Museum and Art Gallery on Monday.

It’s a merger of past and present, a confluence of feelings of artists and art connoisseur from the city, a medium to show respect and celebrate the birth centenary of the late first administrator of Chandigarh Dr. M.S. Randhawa. This might be the basic description of Dr. Randhawa Memorabilia’- an exhibition being show cased at the Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery -10, but look beyond and you will realize how significant the whole event is.

The exhibition of photographs of Dr. Randhawa’s life put up by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi in alliance with Chandigarh Museum and art Gallery reflects his achievements as an administrator and more importantly as an art lover. And what makes this exhibition even more worthwhile is the very venue and sentiments attached to it. Diwan Manna, chairman, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi tells us why, “During the Indochina war, the government stopped supplying funds for the construction of Museum and Art Gallery due to shortage of funds. It was then Dr. Randhawa who persuaded the government that art is indispensable to the society and the museum was completed.” Later on, Dr. Randhawa also got the Fine Arts Museum at The Punjab University constructed and also played a major role in the coming up of Rock Garden. His photographs with artists of different genres like Sobha Singh, Balraj Sahni and Prithivi Raj Kapoor say the rest.

But Ravinder Kumar Sharma, an artist looks up to him for his love for nature, “ It was his vision that we today see flower laden trees on the road sides, otherwise who would have thought that just by planting these trees the city can look beautiful.” Of course, we also have Rose garden to substantiate his love for nature.

Behind every black and white photograph, there is a colorful tale of India and of Dr. Randhawa. His picture with the late Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr. S. Radha Krishnan and Indira Gandhi signify his position as an administrator. His photographs with many foreign dignitaries are also on display at the exhibition.

N.S. Randhawa, director, Museum and Art Gallery tells us more about the exhibition. “It traces various achievements of Dr. Randhawa as a civil servant, an administrator, art lover, writer and philosopher. It is an effort to education the present generations about the contributions that he has made to the city.”

Art Of Aesthetics

Indian Express
Wednesday, 4th February 2009
By Parul

Unlike on the canvas, nothing in life is black and white, it’s the grey areas that need to be noticed. So, at a lecture on art and architecture by artist Jatin Das, to celebrate the birth centenary of Dr. MS Randhawa, the recollection of a perfect past, the concerns of an uncertain present and hope for a vivid future had the large audience absorbed. “When we celebration a man like MS Randhawa, we do the right thing, for he was a men who had the vision and courage to defy rules and rise above them, build a rapport and make a difference to the lives of thousands of people,” art historian BN Goswamy recalled some warm memories of working with his “uncommon” and “extraordinary” administrator, art lover, scholar, scientist, organizer, social, worker, farmer…..

Then to now, a lack of vision for art and culture, even after 60 years of Independence was artist Jatin Das’ concern for the evening.”Let’s not talk about my art, but my anguish, on how decadent we are becoming, while artists are manufacturing and selling what they produce at night, people are buying only names, be it clothing, perfume or painting,” Das rued how more and more artists, even art students are painting only for selling or holding an exhibition.

A disconnect with our heritage and tradition, a blind love for everything Western and contemporary, a superficial and phony attitude, a disinterest and non – involvement in the preservation and growth of our rich traditional arts, architecture, costumes and most importantly the lack of aesthetics and art in our day-to –day life, Das touched upon various aspects, urging for change. “Why don’t we have museums, art galleries, archives, cafes in our universities and colleges, we don’t have to go for any paradigm, for we have everything here. The need is to replenish the energy and sense of aesthetics in our homes and schools. You don’t need to go into the nitty-gritty to appreciate art, the eyes are enough to experience and enjoy the beauty and colours,” Das works in oil, watercolor, ink, graphics and has a large personal collection of traditional arts and crafts, collected over the last 35 years, especially the Pankha collection. “Each one us should start a private collection of our traditional artefacts and it’s a beginning which can preserve such a treasure,” Das is these days working on the creation of the JD Centre of Art, Bhubaneswar. Orissa designed by BV Doshi, a private non-commercial institution that will celebrate a range of traditional and contemporary visual and plastic arts. “Frankly one life time is not enough to be an artist, you need more,” invite tradition and make it contemporary, the artist has the last word.

‘Experience art in day-today life & replenish it in homes & Schools,’ Jaitn Das on the need to renew our tryst with tradition & heritage.

Beyond Brushes

The Tribune
Wednesday, 4th February 2009
By Parbina Rashid

Artist Jatin Das laments the lack of a clear vision in present day art and architecture.

Can’t say we were not ‘warned’ before we approached our subject. A well –meaning colleague had told us that he is one difficult man to handle. But still, as the subject himself pointed out that there is no absolute reality, we gathered our courage to initiate a heart-to heart session after listening to his speech at the auditorium of Government Museum and Art Gallery-10 on Tuesday evening. Yes, we are talking about Jatin Das, the great artist whose fluidity of lines never fails to mesmerize us.

Taking a cue from his lecture, we try to initiate the conversation with what we thought was relevant, Is he working on any particular theme for his next exhibition which is scheduled for May this year? “One does not work for an exhibition. It is the opposite. First you work and then decide to exhibit.” Wrong footing! And we have only ourselves to blame, for we had heard him speaking against the trend of students exhibition their works even before they complete their degree. “ I am not a bad artist myself but I exhibited my paintings in Kolkata after 20 years, in Mumbai after 11 years and will now put up a show after nine years.” To make his point, Das brought in the popularity of acrylic as a medium of expression among young artists. “ Acrylic is a medium which can be used to paint a frame at night, gets dried in the morning and is ready to be sold in the afternoon.”

“Most of your works are figurative…. Another of us tried, only to be cut off in midsentence, “Let’s not talk about my work. Ask me about art and aesthetics and what’s ailing the society. Discussing my work in not relevant because people who don’t know my work will not be interested in learning about in anyway,” he injects.

So, we let him talk from his heart and problems and their solutions come pouring in. “Even after 60 years of Independence, we still lack a clear vision when it comes to art and architecture. Indigenous architecture is giving way to ugly buildings. Despite the fact that we have thousands of weaves, we wear ugly clothes, import from the West. We are taught Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh while we ignore our master artists and craftsmen. We are aspiring for middleclass gains and losses,” His anguish is visible on his face. But what about solutions?

“Let’s start appreciating art and heritage we have in the family. Teach our children the rich heritage of art and culture we have our in country and please don’t push them into competitions with the lure of rich prizes. Give them art materials as prizes when you hold such competitions, “he shoots. You will write about it, he asks us back. “Sure” we chorus. “Will you show me what you have written?” “Sure, will email you, “we reply. “No e-mail, post me a copy and here is my address, “he hands out his visiting cards, with a stern voice but a soft look. Well, he cares. And despite the ‘warning’ we end up loving this ‘difficult’ but great man.