Few years back, I had gone to see an exhibition at Religare Art Gallery in Saket Delhi,
off the artwork presented in the exhibition was of Rashid Rana’s huge digital work. Earlier,
I was never fond of any digital work or any form of digital art. It was only after seeing
Rashid Rana’s digital work, my thoughts started changing and I realised this art form has
immense potential, and I started taking serious interest in it. As I would say that, Rashid
Rana is arguably one of the most talented and greatest digital artists amongst us today. My
idea of digital art was that people would print the original painting in the digital form and
sign them as limited edition. In India, many artists are now doing digital art; very recently I
was impressed with the works of B. Manjunath Kamath, Shovin Bhattacharjee and Pratul
Dash, these artists are of par excellence and specialises in their genre. Digital Art is all set
to bring considerable changes in the world of art and holds a bright future for itself, because
in coming years I feel that art will not just happen with brush and canvas, but technology
will also play a major role in creating artworks. There are many people like me, who didn’t
believe in this form of art earlier, but in my opinion, they too must have changed their
opinions.

Rajesh Punj a senior writer of Art & Deal covers Rashid Rana’s journey in an elaborate
interview in this issue. The interview talks much about his work graph, his multitude
mediums, photography and paintings developed over the years. Incredibly dynamic and
purposely complex Rana engages with such a vast array of powerful and very pertinent
ideas with such virtuosity that it isalmost impossible to be unmoved by his approach. In
interview over the course of several years, Rashid Rana explores his motives, his personal
ambition for contemporary art from Pakistan, of his reluctanceto be preoccupied with
cultural identity, and his comparing himself to footballer Christiano Ronaldo.

Johny Ml contributes a fascinating write -up on Shovin Bhattacharjee’s art spaces and
stresses on his installations and his growing interest in installation. Shovin has been making
paintings and installations for almost two decades andthey have been widely exhibited in the
national and international platforms. Of late, his interest in installations has grown along
with his concerns for the human as well as other creature habitats and the fast depletion
of them due to human avarice. Shovin has ventured into the making of installations that
are replete with the indications of the dangersof a homocentric world view and how the
problems createdby such perception could be overcome through philosophical, pragmatic
and aesthetical lifestyles.

Ritika Lall Chakravartty writes an intriguing experience tale of Art Retreat, which
took place in Bhimtal, Uttrakhand. A unique concept developed by a noted Architect and
recipient of many prestigious awards Nilanjan Bhowal. An art abode ‘Brooks Arthaus’,
constructed by Nilanjan, in Bhimtal, Uttrakhand, Brooks is an exclusive platform for art
development, art residencies and art retreats.Artists were invited from all over the world and
all genres; to engage themselves in art projects, and cultural exchange. Brooks Arthaus is a
small gated community of 11designer villas, spread in 3 acers with facilities like clubhouse,
swimming pool, gymnasium and mediaroom. Each villa is custom made to suit and expand
the artistic horizons of an artists, designers, writersand art patrons.

Recently, Art Konsult branched itself further and opened a new gallery, “Art Konsult
Edge”. The gallery is very thoughtfully conceptualised to curate shows of the contemporary
artists. In future the gallery plans to tie up with contemporary emerging artists and
new media artists across the world and provide them platform to show case their work.
Recently, ‘Art Konsult Edge’ hosted its first contemporary art show, at 1, Basement, Hauz
Khas Village, New Delhi. The exhibition is still on andit will continue till 25th June 2019.
Exhibition themed ‘Breaking Chemistry’, brings 20 art works of seven contemporary artists.
Participating artists are Dheeraj Yadav, Shampa Sircar Das, Shovin Bhattacharjee, Aditi
Raman, Sanjay Das, and Nupur Kundu.

As the weather seems to be giving no respite from heat, folks are travelling to cooler
places. I wish everyone a happy summer vacation and looking forward to much more
engaging art calendars soon.

As always feel free to write to us with your comments, feedback and suggestion.

Happy Reading
Siddhartha Tagore