Some coincidences in the last week seem to have changed my direction towards my own exploration into Art Inquiry

I have been practicing brush strokes with reference from Sansei's book of 'Shodo'. Something I have been doing since I left Visual arts school. Those were explorations into form and space and fluidity. Now they are more streamlined to study of the Brush and its movements. While periodically working on 'Mu' (Japanese idiom- Nothingness and its parallel 'Sunya' (Sanskrit term for Zero) i ponder on comparing both the philosophies, both in aesthetics and Cultural* thought process. This search is ongoing. Thankful for my teacher's book on Zen Calligraphy. It's a peep into Zen and indirectly on Japanese aesthetics. 

Last week, I happen to work on a photograph converting it into a digi card. It was distressing as the feel of (so called) Green reminded me of Gaitonde's paintings with similar visual sensations. His abstract painting with some story happening in colors and forms cannot be expressed in any words that equate the "pure visual experience" a term used by Sunil Borgavker, classical vocalist, Borgavker In his write up compares the disciplines of  Art and Music, in relation to Gaitonde's paintings. His thoughts brought me closer to Gaitonde as a Painter then as an Artist of his paintings. Talking of Abstraction, another of an Artist friend and a mentor, whose works i find invigorating is Pandit Khairnar's field Painting . Very matured and refined skill of creating space through his medium of Oil paints always inspired me to understand the deeper mysteries of Painter's world. 

Gaitonde's works are the finest abstracts I grew up with as a student of art in Mumbai. With that visual culture, anything lesser seems distasteful if not fake even if it is hung in the best Museums. 

So my card was about words transforming into visuals but then I found myself adding Sanskrit words that are from Bharatmuni's Shadnaga sloka on Natya shastra. 

The words didnot do any good to the visual creation but it did pull my attention towards Indian Aesthetic reminding me of the inspiring talks of Dr R Pandharipande on Kalidasa and his writings on Beauty. Kalidasa was a poet with epic works like Meghadoota (Cloud messenger) . This work entices me as to how Kalidasa's imagination is not just a poetry but real evidence has been found in the geographical trajectory of Meghadoota's journey starting from Central India to his (in sanskrit Cloud is masculine term) entry in Himalayas. While searching about Aesthetical links to this work, I found some details in this talk, at about 17:40 min there is a mention of arthalankar' (meaning oriented simile not word oriented) something that is more significant in Visual Arts and in a way also overrides  literature demanding more subtle sensitivity and perceptions.

This took me to my favourite sloka Shadanga from Bharat Muni's Natya shastra with the 6 limbs of Art. 

Does all this fit into the Humanitarian cause that our projects have been? one might ask. 

depends on what we address as humanitarian. isn't developing mental faculties and a sense of beauty lead to joyful moments maybe also in the moments of suffering? would that be good for humanity 

Around this time, my Art teacher Sawant Sir who had recently sent a Ganesha graphic he created from a photograph. The Artwork is a beautiful representation of creativity, imagination and a refined aesthetic taste. He had once pointed how eastern philosophy takes Artist towards Samadhi and western outlook hoards suicide. Sawant Sir has been one the contemporary Abstract artist from whom i learnt much of training ones eye to perceive Art. 

* can this taste be developed or some has to be inborn 

around the same week- 

It was an honor to have Dr Visse (Merel) visit me at home last week. After the Book reading event, I was inspired by Dr Stake's enthusiasm but personally felt more inclined to learn about Merel's work on Art Aesthetics and Care. The talks were inspiring, especially her mention of Aesthetics. Thankful to her for sharing some books and resources to study more. 

 I was tensed with several commitments to be completed that day and in  different areas (project, volunteering, kids school, etc.) But these incidents touched the same spot of Art and Aesthetics more than a couple times, refreshing my long lost inclination for exploring deeper into Art and aesthetic. I feel stimulated to dive deeper into Aesthetic Inquiry- Art as a process.