30 March 2020

INDIA: Dhrupad Sansthan (Gurukul) Mural


Right to left: Anant Gundecha, Umakant Gundecha, Siraj Saxena and myself at Bhopal

My joint exhibition with Siraj Saxena in Bhopal was due to be opened by his friend the famous Gundecha brothers musician Ramakant Gundecha. His passing a few days before our exhibition was felt greatly in the creative community of India and Siraj had a brilliant idea to create a mural in his honour at the famous Dhrupad Sansthan music school near Bhopal. After discussion with Umakant Gundecha, Anant Gundecha (son of Ramamakant) and Akhilesh Gundecha at the main centre in Bhopal, we spent four amazing days at Dhrupad Sansthan, on site and living with and listening to students and staff focus intently on the creation of Dhrupad music. This was very new to me but I was enthralled particularly by the lesson with Akhilesh Gundecha and his students and the concentrated effort to achieve the right sound. The Sansthan is full of sound and we absorbed much in this special place in a short time.

Dhrupad Sansthan (Gurukul) Mural. November 2019. Siraj Saxena and Andrew Smith






Dhrupad Sansthan arranged for the acrylic paints (camel) and we set to task in the main Gurukul hall at one end of the main performing area. The green walls and subdued light created an ambience to work with and against. Some light was required in this areas high hue was use. Siraj and myself had very little time to prepare for this and probably if there had been more time to plan we would have found many reasons not to do it or to do it in a less spontaneous way, probably separating ares. In the actuality we had to do it and working on a joint or same [painting is an action I have never done before. It was challenging as our methods are different, particularly with regards to layering and using layers to cover and leaving areas uncovered had to be negotiated through our differing sensibilities. In effect, I was pleased with the result and felt that a lot of what I had absorbed in India seemed to appear in the shape and colour. In effect and result the work is a good joint painting statement with combinations of method combining surprisingly well.

Th photographs of progress over the three days can be seen here.

The Dhrupad Journal review of the work can be read here. (A fine interview and article by Eesha Srinivas).



The Times of India 19.11.19


10 March 2020

India: Mandu, Shadiabad (City of Joy) Malwa, Madhya Pradesh



Mandu 1470 to 1500 is set high on a plateau against Vindhya hills at Malwa, close to Indore.. including Jal Mahal; Jahaj Mahal (ship like palace); Baz Bhadurs’ palace; Rupmati pavilion (above) (high point at 365 meter overlooking Nimar valley); Hoshang Shah mausoleum and Jami Masjid mosque.
The cross over of Islamic (Persian) and Hindu architecture is some of finest in India and inspiration for Taj Mahal (particulary Hoshang Shah)...elegant arches creating symphonies of interior space and distinctive curved window and door arches with cusp point. Here, the location and architecture fuse together.
Thank you Navneet Mhatre and Siraj Saxena. Photo shoot and information here.





Jahaz Mahal or the ship palace was built by Ghiyas-ud-din to serve as the harem for his 15000 maidens. The name of the palace is derived from its narrow shape, resembling a ship, lying between two lakes—Munja and Kapur.













India: Sanchi and Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh



Rock shelters and paintings at Bhimbetka were discovered in 1957 dating to 100000 BC. Among 500 shelters there are paintings in mineral colours of hunters, dancers and warfare with humans riding elephant and horse. Geometric design and a depiction of a child’s hand are among images that predate many other world sites. There is a mystical feel to this place with the natural architecture creating an ambience of timelessness. Never have I been able to get so close to ancient wall painting...thank you Siraj Saxena and Nirmala Sharma for this visit...Photo shoot including information here





Sanchi Stupa





Sanchi Stupa. 1st to 2nd century (Shunga Dynasty) sculpture at one of India’s main sculpture sites. The sculpture represents the life and teaching of Buddha and mainly on the the railings and gates around the hemispheric memorial mounds (Stupa). Sanchi has an external railing with four monumental gateways (Toranas) at the main points of the compass, covered with luxuriant sculpture of allegorical and symbolic narrative of the life of Buddha, who never seems to appear on the steps sculpture, but is referenced obliquely with the wheel of the law, the lotus of his birth, the tree of his enlightenment, the stupa of his consecration, and the umbrella (on top of the stupa) symbol of his royalty.


The decorative female nudes on the corners of the main gates are very alluring. Known as Yakshis (yakshinis)they are a prehistoric, animistic and associated with tree spirits, controlling all process of growth and human fertility. Visit with Nirmala Sharma and Siraj Saxena..thank you. Photo shoot here.

09 March 2020

India: Bhojpur Siva Temple, Madhya Pradesh





Bhoeshwar Siva temple close to the Batwa River ... tour with Nirmala Sharma and Siraj Saxena .. I was struck by the stunning location, the colour of the stone and the monumental quality of this temple...