Time has brought us to the end of another year, the swansong of
twenty-eighteen. December saw the passing away of eminent artist,
art educator and activist Tushar Joag. It is indeed heartrending to be
bidding farewell to a man of such creative forces and high ideals this
early, this unexpectedly.

For our cover story this month, London correspondent Rajesh Punj
interviews Danish artist Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian artist
Ingar Dragset. The duo has been working together since 1995. Their
work explores the relationship between art, architecture and design.
Currently, Elmgreen & Dragset live and work in Berlin. They are known
for art that has wit and subversive humour, and alongside also address
social and cultural concerns.

Rajesh Punj also writes a special report about Mario Merz’s spatial
exhibition of urban igloos constructed using materials straight out of the
city, forming a tandem of ‘of the moment’ semi spaces. In his own words,
“the igloo is a home, a temporary shelter, since I consider that ultimately
today, we live in a very temporary era, for me the sense of the temporary
coincides with this name: igloo.”

Artist and art writer Sukanya Garg elucidates about senior Indian
artist Pratibha Dakoji’s ‘The Recycled Diary Project’, a conceptual art
installation that explores themes of memory and mindfulness, extending
the personal consciousness to include the environmental consciousness
through the recycling of waste paper of over 60 diaries written over the
course of the artist’s life.

This month’s photo story is by Kolkata’s Dilip Banerjee, who takes us
through the by-lanes of North Kolkata into the lives of the hand-drawn
rickshaw pullers. It is an aesthetic peek into their lives, struggles and
means of daily sustenance.

Dr. Rajasri Mukhopadhyay reviews Laxman Aelay’s solo exhibition
titled “Euphonic Myths” at the gallery Art Exposure, Kolkata, held
from 14 September to 06 October 2018. And this month’s book review
by Subhra Mazumdar is based on Artist Pratiksha Apurv’s coffee table
book ‘The Mystic and Her Colours.’

As always feel free to write to us with your comments, feedback and
suggestions. Art & Deal wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very happy
new year!

Happy Reading
Siddhartha Tagore