Playing with plaids

We all know checks are now at it's peak and everyone wants to play around. Though some designer collections like D&G , Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen, etc  had showcased their  plaid trendz in some snazzy way, it is always appropriate to choose plain checks and tartans according to you figure type. Checks always goes fine with plains. Never mix stripe against checks as they are dizzy. A plaid scarf will blend well on every plain outfits, it is same with any stripes and florals. You can make any plaid shirts classic with some neutral complements.  To show off in an unconventional way, mix similar checks of different sizes and same hue to bring out an outfit. Similar checks with different hue can also be used. 

Status of traditional Indian Art

The importance given to the traditional Indian art is declining and this fact is very evident from the lack of importance laid by the authorities. I happened to visit the famous Brihadeeswra temple in Tanjavur, well known as prized architectural site completed during 11th century by Rajaraja Chola I. This Lord Shiva temple is famous for it's single stone sculptured shikara weighting about 81.25 tons,  which is a unique creation of the Chola dynasty. The paintings from these temples are made of vegetable dyes and thus these paintings degrade by time and also due to the non-maintenance by the authorities. Every paintings depict stories on Lord shiva and the ancient scripts portray the construction details with uniqueness of the temple.

 For the people of India, temple is a place of worship, to obtain peace and forgetting burdens in life, but today’s government officials and the temple authorities misuse these site for business purposes. Some auctions are being held at the tanjavore  temple which completely isolate the main purpose of a temple built for. Besides auctions this dwelling place is rented for film shootings and other commercial purposes that points to the loss of its significance.

 The endearing sculpture arts found in the Tanjavur temple not only signifies the storyline of Lord shiva but also the impeccable style of the sculptors. These sculptors were praised by  Kings and Queens along with high remuneration during those times. But in today’s modern world, the attentions given to those creative people is almost nil. Also that people emerging in the field of sculpture art and traditional paintings is very minimal. Inspite of some old aged people found carving the sculptures of deities, the value of the traditional carving is lost in both quality and style. The authorities on the other hand ruin the nature of such precious places by non-implementation of awareness measures on the difficulty of the indian art and misemployment .

 India well known for it's sculpture art ever since the time of Indus Valley Civilization is loosing its fame. Therefore, it is necessary for us to preserve the declining beauty and the people in the field of art, so a strong voice should be raised against those who abuse such priceless places of devotion and art. Such heart-breaking acts just not prevail in Tanjavur temple but also in various other historical spots which has to be foreseen. 

All great works on one roof

Today I had the pleasure of visiting one of the art galleries in Coimbatore 'Kasthuri Srinivasan Art Gallery' at  Avinashi road. This art gallery is run by Kasthuri Srinivasan Trust. It is also a museum for Textiles, which encompasses very rare historical Textile technology. In the inaugural of the today's art show;  head by Mrs.Meena and Mr.Mahendran  from Chennai, approximately 60 art masterpieces were displayed by 50 famous artists. These artists are excelled modernists whose works are sold at exorbitant price ranges from Rs.50,000 to Rs. 700,000 approximately. 

The contemporary arts showcased today portrayed a different feeling and perspective of the artists. Every artists, who had worked on their own themes, emphasised their emotions and skills widely. Several themes were displayed- the bull, feeling of temptation, raindrops,  cat, men driving rickshaw and more. The themes embarked it's own style and craft. When I entered the hall, I was literally captivated by the strong colours and the snazzy brush strokes of 'Men driving rickshaw'. The colours used in the painting evoke a strong feeling of  empathy on those men at work. Another painting that impressed me was 'The feeling of temptation', this substantially proves the anatomy skill and the intuitive mind of the artist. The fine lines and chaos in the painting took me to a world of ecstasy and peace. Several other paintings also conveyed their own language and style. 

I feel extraordinary when I see such platforms given to artists to  exhibit their talents. Besides acting as a forum for professional artists, the trust should also find opportunities for talented art students to earn their living, because only a very few artists gets recognised  by the public after so many years of experience.