The entire country is in festive mood and twirling with ecstasy, of course the festivals make you lively and joyous. With the Goddess Durga’s advancement on an elephant and departure in a palanquin, the festival of lights is approaching to brighten up your lives.

Sadly, last month, an eminent artist, Shamshad Husain, son of veteran artist MF Husain passed away, and Art & Deal laments the great loss as he was one of the significant artists deeply associated with us. The deceased artist is known for his individualistic style that depicts figurative forms on a somber palette, using flattened surface.

With the biennales happening around the world, Turkey’s 14th Istanbul biennial that successfully ended, played a pivotal role in the promotion of contemporary artists not only from Turkey but also from a number of different countries in the international arena.

Art & Deal in this issue covers an international exhibition titled, ‘Frontiers Reimagined’, collaboratively presented by the Tagore Foundation International and the Polo Museale del Veneto. It was a collateral event of the 56th Venice biennale and was acclaimed by ‘The Art Newspaper’ as one of the best exhibitions within All the World’s Futures that created new arenas in the art scene and took the viewers further.

Uma Nair through her article, ‘Sunset at Shantiniketan- Jehangir Art Gallery’, illuminates the stylistic & artistic endeavours of artist, Sanjay Bhattacharya portrayed in the form of painted canvasses that gives a clear statement of Shantiniketan’s status as one of the most important historical places in West Bengal. The Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai showcases the artworks of Sanjay Bhattacharya’s through which the artist transcends into holistic depiction of nature’s glory, boundless with multitude vibrant shades. She also writes about Binoy Varghese who is best known for his combination of Classical and Modern Painting Skills to create hyper realist works.

Apurva Sinha, takes a philosophical and arty walkthrough around the Udayagiri rock-cut caves, Vidisa, Madhya Pradesh and comes out with a new perspective, as how philosophy blended with iconography that resulted into sculptural art with varied conceptual interpretations.

Anindya Kanti Biswas through his article, ‘An unforgettable chapter in Indian Art: Kshitindra Nath Majumdar’, unfolds the life saga of one of the eminent Bengal master who is known for his masterpieces that centred around his spiritual leanings. He also reviews the 12th solo sculptural show of Kiran Dixit Thapar held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. One of the disciples of Ram Kinkar Baij, Kiran Dixit paved her own path by fighting out with inner self. The show was commendable as it combined a successful study based drawing and innovative sculpture.

H.A. Anil Kumar through his article, ‘Art & the City: a Venue of Representational Dilemma’ that was extensively covered by him in ‘Art Bengaluru-2015’ delves into the art education and discusses about its contribution to ‘the visuality-beyond-objectification’.

Sushma Sabnis gives a sneak peek into the India Art Festival that will be held in two cities, i.e. Mumbai & New Delhi. She claims that the Gallery Section of this year returns with promises to entice the art connoisseur and art viewers along with a steady dose of encouragement for the art buyers and art collectors with their resourceful repertoire of art works from all genres. So, get geared for this year’s India Art Festival!

Tanya Abraham reviews an Exhibition titled ‘In Search of the Author’ presented by Ajaykumar at Durbar Hall, Kochi. through this exhibition, Ajaykumar poured in his thoughts, projected details of an era forgotten in his mural; he also connected his works with that of Catherine by building a solemn linkage.

Around the world, the art scenario is boiling with contemporary forms, the prominent art fairs happening during the coming month is Art Taipei at Taiwan, Fresh Paint Contemporary Art Fair at Tel Aviv, Israel, few affordable art shows teamed up art fairs but the talk of Indian Subcontinent is, India Art Festival for sure, which is aesthetically weaved out for the viewers on the intangibility of expressions, it starts on 26th November, 2015 at Nehru Centre, Mumbai.

Greetings for Diwali!

Happy Reading!

Siddhartha Tagore