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Ashok Art Gallery
Western world have suffered from many of the same biases and prejudices that have infected analyses of Indian philosophy and culture.
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Every culture must find a way to grasp the horns of polar opposites – male/female, good/bad, sky/earth, birth/death – which epitomize so much of the human condition. Additive cultures, like Egypt and India, accept these contradictions as imperfectly perceived parts of a greater unity. Unlike the Western religions, which have little philosophical content and belief in the "One God" is mandatory, many of India's ancient religions were not religions in the narrow sense in which religion is construed today. India's early Buddhists were predominantly atheists, the early Jains were agnostic, and within the broad umbrella of Hinduism, there was space for considerable philosophical variety. In the Upanishads, god is described in an extremely abstract and metaphysical way. The philosophical content is essentially secular and spiritual ideas emerge from debate and speculation - not immortal revelations that cannot be challenged or modified with time. In the Nyaya-Sutras, the overwhelming focus is on rational and scientific thinking and analysis, on human understanding of natural phenomenon and physical processes occurring in nature. This rich tradition of philosophy - both rational and spiritual - found it's way into Indian art and architecture as well. Stupas and temples incorporated a profound symbolic language based on visual representations of all the important philosophical concepts. These included the Chakra - the revolving wheel of time which symbolized the cyclical rhythms of the cosmos; the Padma - or the lotus symbol which embodied the prime symbol of creation - of the universal creative force that springs from the bosom of the earth; the Ananta (represented as a snake) symbolized water - the most important life-giving force and the infinite ocean from which all life emerged, got differentiated and then got re-merged and redissolved; the Swastika - representing the four-fold aspects of creation and motion; the Purnakalasa - or the overflowing flower pot - a symbol of creativity and prosperity; the Kalpalata and Kalpavriksha - the wish-fulfillment creeper or tree that were also symbols of imagination and creativity; Gavaska - sometimes understood to be the third eye; Mriga - or deer - symbolic of erotic desire and beauty; and lingam and yoni - the male and female fertility symbols. Rules were also evolved to provide additional symbolic content through hand gestures (mudra) of sculptured deities. Deities were sometimes given multiple arms to signify energy or power or to suggest movement and as symbolic of the celestial dance. Different arm positions embodied different virtues such as wisdom, strength, generosity, kindness and caring. Multiple arms could thus be used to signify multiple virtues. Western analysts have often had difficulty understanding the complex cultural and philosophical systems that gave birth to India's artistic tradition. For many, Indian sculptural panels appeared to be nothing more than a random collection of strange or arbitrary juxtapositions of primitive beliefs and superstitions. This is not to say that Indian spirituality was always free from superstition or arbitrary constructs, but in the best of the sculptural panels, there was a conscious and knowledgeable attempt to convey powerful philosophical ideas.
Once Indian painting is freed from externally imposed standards, and the motivations of the Indian artist are better understood - a whole new world of visual delight can open up. From the quixotic 15th C illustrations of Jain texts in Gujarat to the deeply expressive miniatures of Malwa, one can move on to the colorful whimsy of 16th C Mewar, the striking elegance of the Kishangarh school, and the refined beauty of later Kangra miniatures. One can appreciate the earnest lyricism of the Orissa palm-leaf miniatures, the decorous elan of the Bundelkhand wall paintings, the bold and dark colors of Lepakshi, and the vivacious renditions in the palaces and temples of Madurai, Thanjavur and Ramanathapuram. In all these varied traditions of Indian painting, an important element that infused Indian painting with charm and vivacity was the folk idiom that unabashedly found it's way in the art of the regional kingdoms who were less infected by formal Mughal tastes. When the European world began to experience a renaissance in the realm of art and sculpture, exactly the opposite processes were at work in India. After the renaissance, much of the new patronage for European sculpture came from the urban areas, and this is why European sculptors infused their creations with an urbane sophistication. The strong shadow of Islamic prudery prevented such a development from taking place in India. The great wealth of Indian sculpture was created during Europe's Christian era, in a society where the divide between the city and the countryside had not yet sharpened as much. This is why so much of Indian sculpture retains such a strong link to nature and seems less urbane and cosmopolitan, and hence less meritorious to the Western eye. The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.The Best art place on this globe. 
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Fine art is confidently viewed by financial experts as one of the best performing asset categories
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The art market is thriving. Fine art is confidently viewed by financial experts as one of the best performing asset categories of 2010-11. The international Modern and Contemporary art markets are up by an average of 25%, against FTSE's 11% and Dow Jones 9%, and by all accounts this trend will continue through 2011- said ArtLyst. London Contemporary and Modern Sales Break Records:A successful fortnight of Impressionist, modern and contemporary auctions in London outshone all expectations for the annual summer sales. They realised £516.2 million, the third highest on record for the combined group of London power-players. This was a fraction behind £520 million achieved in February 2008 at the height of the market peak. The Impressionist and modern art sales, were dominated by the later modern works realising around £280 million. This is similar to the figures achieved in London in June 2008 where the series achieved £298 million.
The post-war and contemporary art, that took the brunt of the recession, having lagged far behind the Impressionist and modern art market during 2010, has made a miraculous recovery. Contemporary art is genuinely catching up with sales of just over £236 million, a 102 per cent increase on last summer. Against all odds Sotheby’s achieved the highest total for a single contemporary art auction outside New York of £109 million.
Figurative painting,was the biggest winner with Christie’s portrait by Francis Bacon reaching £18 million and a landscape by Peter Doig £6.2 million. Sotheby’s also faired well for German artists Sigmar Polke who died last year £5.7 million, and the ever popular Georg Baselitz £3.2 million. European, art from the collection of Count Duerkheim also faired well.
The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.The Best art place on this globe. 
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While celebrating harmony in diversity, this is the miracle of love: The World Cultural Festival a review
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 The 3o year celebration of "The Art of Living" foundation celebrated as World Cultural Festival on June 2-3 at German capital.It is time to celebrate the differences and celebrate life on this planet said Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder. Fascinating yoga performances, melodious music, dazzling cultural programmes and colourful costumes took thousands of participants on an unforgettable journey of India and the world as the World Cultural Festival ended in the German capital Sunday. Thousands of people, including Indian Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai and BJP President Nitin Gadkari , braved showers and chilly winds in the German capital to attend yoga performances and riveting Indian dance and music shows as part of the World Cultural Festival. The event is celebrated as a "peace festival" at the historic Olympic Stadium that hosted the 1936 Olympics and 1974 World Cup football matches. The stadium turned 75 this year. The festival also marks 30 years of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living organisation. The function started with playing of nadaswaram, a south Indian musical instrument, by artists from Indian and Sri Lanka. The beats of the barrel-shaped drum filled the stadium with energy as people clapped along, forgetting the chilly winds. On D Day, everything was ready. But that was not counting the vagaries of the weather: that morning, it started to rain, hard and steady. 40.000 disciples of the Art of Living prayed silently to their Master so that the rain stopped before the performance. But another miracle happened. First 50 Indian singers smiled though the rain while reciting ancient Sanskrit slokas. Then 500 Polish dancers hopped, skipped and bowed in the mud and puddles. The ancient science of yoga came indeed alive with hundreds of adepts going though asanas. The Art of Living performers seemed to transcend the rain: standing for a long time in flimsy clothing, in 13° centigrade, under sheets of rains, while waiting for their turn, they exploded in joy, grace, rhythm and sometimes power. The sheer joy, energy, enthusiasm of not only the performers, but also of the nearly 40.000 spectators who had braved the rain, was something to watch. Nobody, even amongst the ministers, presidents and MP's who sat with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the dais, was indifferent. And finally, that was what the miracle was about: not some cheap stunt of the rain stopping, by some power, or just a freak chance, which would have had many in religious ecstasy. But thousands of performers transcending adversity — which that day took the shape of unexpected cold and rain — through their devotion and love of their Master, and in the process, attaining heights of performance, which they might not have achieved in perfect conditions.  And in this union of their minds and bodies, not only were they forgetful of the rain, but different people from different countries, religions, cultures, some of them even hostile to each other, blended, naturally. And the message, which this gathering was to give, went through effortlessly: that the whole world can come together, while celebrating harmony in diversity. This is the miracle of love, this is the miracle of the rain. And even the sceptics rose as one man as the laser show and thousands of cheering spectators.
Excerpts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s speech at the World Culture Festival, Berlin, July 2-3. I am so happy to be here in this city where the walls came down between people, it is time walls come down between cultures and civilizations. We all should remember we are a one world family. We need to bring everyone together in a spirit of love compassion, service. When we started, we had this idea, the theme song was rainbow colors and the rains have come! Singing in times of difficulty shows that we have achieved something. Whatever the circumstances are, we will continue to serve the world as one human family with differences. It is time to celebrate the differences and celebrate life on this planet. With all the volunteers, we are sure we can create a stress-free, violence-free society for our children. Poverty eliminated, differences celebrated and connection to the inner Divinity. One Divinity, one humanity, celebrating differences, this is our sacred duty.
The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.The Best art place on this globe. 
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Celebrating Diversity for a Peaceful Tomorrow, the World Culture Festival at the Olympiastadion Berlin!
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 “Thirty years of The Art of Living: a milestone has been achieved. We are inspired to continue with more enthusiasm and greater speed to realize the dream, where life becomes a celebration and the world will become one family. The World Culture Festival is a celebration of achievements and a vision to do better,” said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Art of Living founder. 630 dignitaries from India and abroad including the deputy foreign minister of Russia, past Presidents and Prime Ministers, Ministers, Congressmen, several Members of the European Parliament, the German Parliament, ambassadors, business leaders, academicians, NGO representatives, religious and spiritual leaders will attend the festival. Mr. Subodh Kant Sahay, Minister for Tourism, Government of India; Mr. B S Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, India will be representing India. The festival, with a theme of ‘Celebrating Diversity and Enriching Life’ will see over 70,000 people from across continents, religions, traditions, backgrounds sit together. Sri Sri will lead a meditation for world peace. One of the highlights will be the Grand Guitar Ensemble for Peace - an enchanting symphony of 2,000 guitarists, 30 Grand pianists and 3000 choir singers. Other than the German and the European National Anthems, Vande Mataram will also be sung. The festival will also have shows featuring classical music from India and America, contemporary music from Malta, Shaolin Monks from China, traditional flutes from Turkey, folk dances from Russia and Bulgaria and a variety of performances by German artistes. Lotus dance from Japan, Aboriginal dance from Canada and Swiss groups, Austrian Alpine Horns will vie for the eyeballs during the two-day jamboree. Four continent-based pavilions from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe, will showcase the cultural heritage, food, dance, music, poetry and literature from many countries. The stadium will be transformed into Europe’s biggest participative Yoga Park where visitors can experience yoga workshops from different countries and explore the effect of it on physical and mental health and inner peace. A unique Yoga Museum will chart the evolution of Yoga from ancient sages to its global application in the 21st century and also illustrate the societal impact of Yoga in peace building and its application in humanitarian projects around the world. More details of the festival at: www.artofliving.org, www.worldculturefestival.org LIVE Webcast on www.artofliving.org: Jul 2nd at 8 pm IST, Jul 3rd at 1.30 pm IST
The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.The Best art place on this globe. 
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INNOCENT DIVINE, a solo show by artist Ajay Mohanty
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little about: The art tradition in India is so very strong that artists adapt the visual elements with subtle changes to suit contemporary makeover. In the case of Ajay Mohanty, one could easily consider these remains. They have emerged with subtle aesthetic layers with focus on the compositional patter. Stylistically different though but the gestures and colour have strong reference points. The only deviation perhaps is that of the space treatment and that make it visual strong and appealing.His works hover on the verge of resolve, oscillating between fragile spaces and painterly surfaces arrived at by a variety of means. While his interest in painting's history is visible, each painting is treated as an open ended exploration. The work functions with its own internal logic yet is firmly rooted in the world of experience, displaying a gentle but insistent emotional undertow.
Each of the works on display require time and scrutiny to reveal their quiet intelligence and strong determination to capture the poetic capabilities of the artists' chosen medium. In this technology driven era, it is easy to forget the role of the handmade object and the importance it plays in a contemporary context. Not overly pretentious or garishly imposing, Ajay the artist in this exhibition force the viewer to look beneath what is literally seen to reveal questions about their mediums' historical burden.
Ajay Mohanty received his BFA from Utkal University at B.K. College of Art and Crafts, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 1996, He was awarded by Lalitkala Academy as best child artists at his age 11, after his fine art education he shifted to Delhi and working on creative field, over the past five years, participated in numerous group shows.His works has been showcased in both the Indian Art Fair, India Art Summit, New Delhi and Art Expo India, Mumbai by Ashok Art Gallery.
INNOCENT DIVINE
The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.The Best art place on this globe. 
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| January 7, 2011 | 8:01 AM |
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