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Creativity beyond the canvas
Let there be light... & how
PACESETTER Spiral
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Creativity beyond the canvas
For
some artists the easel, paint brush and canvas have given way to exotic materials with which they express their three-dimensional inventiveness….plastic art, installation art, computer art, interactive art, figurative art, video art, environment art, street art, mural art, unheard of art... Artists are pushing the limits of creativity and moving away from the conventional parameters of art into the realms of experimentation. This is no flash-in-the-pan art, neither is it a fad. It is new-age art, re-defined, not just by modern technology but by an attitudinal change of the artist and connoisseur. Many artists say that in future, art will be propagated through projectors and computer monitors. This will alter not only the form but also the content in radical ways. However, others are quick to point out that it is unlikely that conventional art galleries and museums will become defunct.
Timeless appeal
“Traditional art will never go out of fashion,” says Dr Alka Pande, consultant arts adviser and curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at New Delhi’s India Habitat Centre. “It is timeless and its appeal is all-encompassing. Experimental art has its place, but not at the cost of conventional art which will always be secure and pristine.” Interestingly, many of the newer art forms are coming to the fore because of new-found concerns. Some time back when studies started showing that almost 80 per cent of the plastic bottles are not recycled and end up as garbage and go into landfills creating a potential for an ecological disaster, artists started recycling these bottles and registered their protests by creating virtual masterpieces as well as some amazing objects that have brought the message home. In 2010, a New York-based graphic designing agency made headlines when it created stunning installations with plastic bottles. Though art critics gave rave reviews to the exhibition, the artists said for them the installations were not just object d’art but a means to highlight the widespread environmental degradation caused by discarded plastic bottles. The installation had used 1,500 bottles — the precise number of plastic water bottles consumed in the US in one second. Installation art in other forms, too, is here to stay. It is a sculpture-kind of art, which is generally not mounted on a pedestal, but is a walk-in art that allows you to walk around it and through it to comprehend the message of the artist. It can be in the open or in the studio. The possibilities are limitless.
Global prominence
Back in the 1980s, this art form moved out of its niche status and gained global prominence with artists like Michael Craig-Martin, Walter de Maria, Richard Wilson and others bringing it to the forefront of artistic consciousness. They used a plethora of objects like cut flowers, stones, stuffed birds, buckets, coal, bread, furniture and even human waste to express their inner feelings. They were noted for their canvasses as well as other forms of art and preferred to be called contemporary conceptual artists. Celebrated Indian artist Navjot Altaf is a contemporary conceptual artist. She is as comfortable with the paintbrush and easel as she is with other forms of art like interactive sculptures and installations that combine audios and videos along with music and books. In 2008, Navjot Altaf’s work December 15th.-2000 was auctioned by Christie’s, London, for $43, 965. Among other venues, she has exhibited at the Tate Modern in London, at Kunstforum in Dusseldorf, Germany, and has participated in the Sydney Biennale.
Unconventional forms
Sophie Gaur is a digital artist who also dabbles in various other art forms. But she says that most unconventional work that passes for art is not art. She believes that like the creator of art on canvas, the computer or video or installation artist must have aesthetic attributes and he or she must be sensitive to form, space and colour apart from being fully conversant with technique. Once the artist masters the tools then modern art becomes as rich as conventional art. Arunkumar H.G. is a many-splendored artist. He creates art from toys, plastic objects and ceramics. He makes sculptures from such traditional materials as wood and bronze as also modern stuff like vinyl covered textiles. He says his works are to be touched, played with and then worn out. That is their true appreciation. In November, 2012, Arunkumar H.G.’s fibreglass in fibreglass creation Nandi in Yellow was auctioned for Rs. 4,21,200 by Saffronart. Of all the new-age art forms, installations are among the most popular. The select band of installation artists are led by Anish Kapoor (58), the India-born-England-settled artist considered to be one of the greatest living installation masters. Kapoor’s works have been exhibited in the Tate, the Royal Academy of Arts, Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Kunsthalle Basel in Switzerland, Reina Sofia in Madrid, the National Gallery in Ottawa and a host of other venues. Kapoor’s sculpture Cloud Gate in Chicago cost $ 15 million and is the most expensive public art in the world.
Making business sense
Artists like Anish Kapoor are another reason for the growing popularity of new art forms. They have started making business sense. Installations by Kapoor are worth their value in gold. Not just him, the new-age art works of most well known artists vie with conventional art forms as far as value is concerned. The works of some artists can virtually fetch a fortune even as the popularity of new art grows. Many art lovers feel that with the growing popularity of installation art, conventional galleries and museums may soon become a rarity. Art may move to the streets. In fact, future art will alter not only the form but also the content in radical ways. Most innovative artists say that installation art offers enormous possibilities. There is unconstrained manoeuvrability and merging of images. This art functions in a constantly changing landscape that is trans-time and trans-space.But here comes the cautionary note. Even as art becomes unconventional, it may run the risk of becoming indistinguishable from entertainment; it will share a hyphenated relationship with fashion and commerce, it will be temporary and always of the moment. But the advantage is that unlike a conventional artist, who has to work with a limited set of colours, these new-age artists can choose from millions of objects. The types of surfaces available are also myriad. Turid Uldal, a Norwegian installation artist who spent a long time in India, says, "We all have to get together and formalise these new art forms. We must move to an era when a horse drawn by Hussain will vie for attention with an installation of a digitally created horse beamed through a projector on a wall. That’s when new-age art would have truly arrived."
In the name of art
The cost of different art forms varies. It can range from a few thousand to as high as $15million, as was the case with Anish Kapoor’s installation. The different types of art forms practised are:
Installation
As the name suggests, it is art that has been installed or arranged according to the perception of the artist which may be on the ground or on a pedestal but not on canvas.
Plastic
It is a form of art that uses plastic objects especially bottles for creative forms. It was born when some artists started expressing their concern for non-biodegradable waste.
Computer
Also known as digital art, it employs computer as a basic tool to create art forms. It may also combine traditional artworks and paintings with digital techniques.
Interactive
In this form of art, the artist’s aim is to involve with the viewer. In some interactive art forms the viewer is allowed to walk through an installation or even engage with the art form.
Figurative
This art involves using figures from the real world. These could be human figures or animals. Also called representational art it is art that represents reality.
Video
It is an art where the artist takes the help of video and audio to represent his or her creativity. However, the images do not generally contain any narrative or dialogue but present a creative idea.
Environmental
This form of art was born when artists started expressing their concern for nature. The paintings express a deep unease about the denudation of environment.
Street
Art created in public places is called street art. It could be in the form of graffiti or installations inspired by urban environment. It is sometimes used by artists to express common concerns.
Mural
Often described as art on the wall, modern mural artists are just carrying forward a centuries-old tradition of murals and frescoes. The Ajanta Caves are a great example of mural art in India.
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Let there be light... & how Many actually resemble works of art and create a sense of drama with their inventive forms and lend charm to a living room, bedroom, or even a bathroom or kitchen. From inset LED ceiling lights, standalone floor lamps, track lighting, task lighting and contemporary custom-made lights, there is a virtual array of bespoke light fixtures in the market. Creative lights
Ask leading interior designers and they will tell you that proper lighting has the same impact as any other decorative in a room. Layers of light can enhance the space, highlight certain elements, or illuminate specific areas. Creative light fixtures have the power of lending charm of their own to a room by making it sparkle. On the other hand, faulty or stark lighting can have the opposite effect and will completely ruin the look of a room. “Fancy fixtures are one of the most important components of a house. They can add beauty to the interiors, highlight details and enhance the visual appeal,” says Vibha Suri, who specialises in designing farmhouses around Delhi. Light, she says, is as important a component of interior decoration as a painting or a decoration piece. There are many corners, pictures, objects in a room that get lost in a general flood of light. Thus, it becomes important to use bespoke lights to accentuate them.
Costly bespoke illumination
The cost of fancy illumination too can be fancy! Though chandeliers start with a few thousands and go up to lakhs, even the price of bespoke ceiling and wall lights can start at around Rs 10,000, a piece with no upper limits. In many well-decorated houses, every room has custom-made light fixtures. For example, a living room could have a low level incandescent lighting as it exudes warmth. A touch of romance can also be added with uplights concealed in the ceiling or glowing behind cabinets, or even ceramic ambient lights to create an intimate and a welcoming aura for the guests. Bedroom lighting is more complex. Since this is a place that has multiple uses: a room where you sleep, watch television, read a newspaper or a book and, generally, relax, you need different layers of illumination like overhead lights, lamps and focussed light for reading. Lighting must match furniture décor and according to interior specialists, the emphasis should be on brass and bronze fixtures.
Elegant chandelier
The kitchen would require brighter lighting as it involves cooking lighting and a big pendant light would be ideal. However, for kitchens that are an extension of the living or drawing room, even an elegant chandelier would brighten things up. Contrary to popular perception, designers give a very careful thought to lighting in the bathroom. According to interior designer Anchal Joshi, a bathroom needs to be well lit, as this is where we groom ourselves. However, that does not mean you should go for stark lights. It should have one overhead central light that illuminates and adds depth to the entire area and this can be interspersed with more focussed lighting, which could be around the mirror and also the shower area. Modern lights can be divided into three broad categories — ceiling, hanging and wall lights. The kind of lighting fixture you select will make a vital difference in the presentation and décor of the room. The right kind of lights will bring to life your interior spaces.
Clutter-free lighting
Ceiling lights, for example, use incandescent or fluorescent bulbs that make a room glow. In smaller rooms, a single fixture will provide sufficient light. But if the room is large, then, it would require supportive lights as well. So you would have to use your imagination whether to use decorative or clutter-free lighting. Hanging lights, which in modern parlance are also called pendant lights, have, of late, caught the fancy of designers as they can be used to effectively highlight an area and give it an updated look. They add amazing ambience to a room when used with a dimmer.
The John Lewis Nebula ceiling lights with irregularly curving arms, burst out from a central chrome sphere to form a cloud of sparkling lights. While 24 arms have bulbs on each end, other arms support stylish Egyptian lead crystal globes which glow in the light.
The spectacular Wofi Sevilla semi-flush ceiling lights come in three sizes fitted with 12, 18 or 24 halogen lights that are each mounted upon a metal arm in highly polished chrome finish. This is a very stylish fitting that would certainly add drama and class to any living room.
For years, Maria Theresa style of crystal chandeliers has been a sign of class. This collection by Crystorama offers a variety of finishes and crystal combinations. The collection also has on offer dazzling chandeliers in golden teak crystal.
One of the world’s foremost designers of crystal art glass lighting, American company Dale Tiffany was the first factory worldwide to standardise stained glass production. The result is stylish and functional products like flush mount ceiling light.
CEILING LAMPS BY SIKREA
Italian light company Sikrea is known for its creative designs, styling and clean lines. This 11-lamp powerful ceiling light will illuminate the room while its subtle design and creativity will take your breath away.
This modern contemporary style 28-light chandelier from the aquarium collection of American company PLC Lighting comes in polished chrome with 10-watt halogen bulbs and a stately height of 34-inches.
One of the premiere manufacturers of Crystal Chandeliers in America, James Moder Company, is known for its stylish light fixtures. This stunning hand-cut chandelier in Swarovski crystals is from the heritage collection and is sure to compliment any living room.
Spectacular crystal bar LED pendant light comes dressed in full lead hand cut Bohemian crystals, mirror finished high polished stainless steel frame. It has a strong illumination with LED Globes. The striking and head-turning design of these lights will add drama to a room.
The Minka Lavery 9-light golden bronze chandelier is a kaleidoscope for the senses. Inspired by classic European design, it spells class. Made of sturdy glass shades and wood and metal frame, it makes a trendy ceiling light, which will add oomph to a drawing room.
This Jeeves Bowler hat light pendant is based on the classic iconic British hats. The quirky black ceiling light has been designed by glass blower Jake Phipps for the British light company Innermost. The pendant light is sure to become the natural talking point at any get together. Price:
Rs 15,300
A contemporary and elegant light finished in chrome and decorated with luxe crystal beads, the Edith crystal pendant ceiling light can stand out both in traditional and contemporary settings. With a height of 35 cm, it sparkles with the light of six halogen bulbs.
Price:
Rs 27,200
The five-light Tiffany chandelier in antique iron from Landmark Lighting has five elegant shades. These cascade from the antique iron finished frame, which is curved and bent with hooked arms. The style of the Tiffany glass shades would add beauty to any room in the house.
DAR HIMALAYA CEILING PENDANT
This stunning modern ceiling pendant comes from the Dar Himalaya range. It features a circular polished chrome cage, which houses 18 adjustable arms leading to each candle light. So go ahead and create your own bespoke display of lampshades within the cage.
This Cloud 9-flush ceiling light from Glasswells of England comes Price:
Rs 18,275
SCHONBEK MINI PENDANT
The Matrix designs of American light company Schonbek take the form of cubes and rectangles. This iridescent crystal mini-pendant in rectangular shape will dominate any space. A shimmering parallelogram of dense crystal, it has the visual impact of a contemporary sculpture. Price:
Rs 37,400
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Zooming up music charts As India’s first psytrance DJ, Shahveer Sidhwa, better known as Spiral, has a global appeal Smriti Munwani Some young people choose their career; others get chosen by their life’s calling. Shahveer Sidhwa belongs to the latter category. Better known as Spiral, he is one of those who was slowly drawn into the world of psytrance, which is a form of electronic music characterised by hypnotic arrangements of synthetic rhythms and complex layered melodies. Chances are that the normal music fan may not be familiar with this form of music, but that does not diminish the significance of Spiral as India’s first psytrance DJ. Spiral’s global appeal reaches out to an extremely niche audience. At 24, he has already worked with international greats like Psykovsky (Russia), Highko (Germany), Terratech (Portugal) and Kerosene Club (India). International Tracks
Spiral has released tracks internationally with labels like Geomagnetic (USA), Tantrumm Records (India/Russia), Noise Poison Records (Germany), Ketuh Records (Portugal) and Mass Abduction (Portugal) and featured in some of India's biggest electronic music festivals like Moondust and Darksun. He is currently working on an album due to be released by Kamino Records in Mexico. This album is being produced by Mexican psytrance artist Kashyyyk. He is also scheduled to give a live, two-hour performance at the Turkish Music Festival later this month. “Initially, during the struggling years, there may not be so much money, but once you have made your name, you can command your price,” says the Mumbai-based Spiral and adds, “If I were to play four gigs a month abroad, I can easily make between 3,000 and 5,000 Euros for each gig (between Rs 2.10 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh). Apart from working at gigs, there is a generous income from records and performances at private parties.”
Spiral’s musical journey began when he was introduced to this form of music by a friend, while still at school. He was instantly hooked. His computer teacher showed him a software called Fruity Loops and he started, in his own words, “messing around with it”. Though he loved the music he was not sure where it would take him. He finished his graduation, did a course in event management and then went on to do a course in sound engineering. The music world was truly beckoning him and he started working as a DJ at Mumbai clubs like Rock Bottom, Fire ‘n’ Ice, Red Light, Squeeze and HQ. He played at private parties in his spare time, gaining valuable experience. He was invited to participate in leading Indian electronic music festivals, which took him to places like Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Goa and Nepal. Beginning with a home computer, he has a professional set-up with his own studio and equipment. In keeping with his interests, Spiral has cultivated a unique look with his dreadlocks. “In this line, one has to keep up with modern technology and I work with digital and analog synthesisers. This gives my music a unique freshness,” says Spiral who sees future in psytrance.
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NEW ROMEO ON THE STREETS
Price: Expected to be around $75,000
(Rs 41.25 lakh)
WORLD ON YOUR WRIST
Price: Yet to be announced
GAME ON
Expected price: Between $400 and $450
(Between Rs 22,000 and Rs 24,750)
CHECKMATED BY BATMAN
Price: $800
(Rs 44,000)
GLOWING CHOCOLATE
Price: Yet to be announced
This is the grand emperor of mobiles. The Vertu TI Android smart phone has titanium casing and is handmade in England by the company’s team of specialists, most of whom have a background in aerospace engineering. At 3.7 inches, the sapphire crystal screen is the largest ever made. It has a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. It comes in a number of variants and is expected to be launched in India soon. Will there be buyers for this extraordinary phone? Sure, there will be. The only catch is you’ve got to have the kind of bank balance that can afford such luxuries.
Price: From $9,600 to $19,900 (Between Rs 5.28 lakh and Rs 10.95 lakh) COFFEE ‘FIX’
Price: $20 (Rs 1,100)
She has been an astronaut, an American presidential candidate, a UNICEF ambassador and a rock star. Now Barbie is all set to become a fashion icon. She will soon be leading the way in the world of high fashion with a blingy, digital dress with 114-coloured LED lights. The dress combines haute couture, sound-activation and on-trend technology. A touch panel is used to create patterns of LED lights that pulsate to the beat of music. Want this Barbie? You’ll have to wait as it will walk the ramp in this digital dress in August, 2013 Price: $50
(Rs 2,750)
STROLLER SCOOTER
Price: $4,700 (Rs 2,58,500)
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Smriti Munwani
In
of a room.
JOHN LEWIS NEBULA 24 CEILING LIGHTS
WOFI SEVILLA SEMI-FLUSH LIGHT
MARIA THERESA SWAROVSKI CHANDELIER
DALE TIFFANY FLUSH MOUNT CEILING LIGHT
Price:
Rs 24,750
28-LIGHT CHANDELIER
JAMES MODER CEILING PENDANT
LED CRYSTAL BAR PENDANT LIGHTS
MINKA LAVERY 9-LIGHT CHANDELIER
Price:
Rs 90,750
EDITH CRYSTAL PENDANT CEILING LIGHT
FIVE-LIGHT TIFFANY CHANDELIER
Price:
Rs 61,600
CLOUD-9 FLUSH CEILING LIGHT
with stylish polished chrome finish with stunning red glass baubles and crystal decoration. The light adds amazing drama to the room with its bright colours and its unusual design.
It’s a hark back to the decades of 1930s and 1940s when the legendary Italian car maker made stunning 8C and 6C models. Now their cousin, the Alpha Romeo 4C is all set to be launched later this year. It is a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seater coupé in a limited edition of 2000. One of its most outstanding features is that it has a carbon-fibre chassis, which is generally found in the exotic and super expensive cars like the McLaren MP4-12C. The 1750-cc engine made of aluminium is extremely light, making it amazingly aerodynamic and at 850 kg, it will be one of the lightest supercars on the roads.
Now with the excitement surrounding the launch of iPhone 5 having been satiated, what will Apple invent next to whip up a worldwide frenzy? The answer: An iWatch. But by any stretch of imagination, this will not be any ordinary wrist watch. Apple has patented a watch that is virtually a wearable computer that can accomplish a number of tasks with its multi-touch display. It will have an aluminium casing and will connect to an iPhone or an iPad by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It would answer calls that come on the iPhone in your pocket, or display SMS and e-mail messages. There’s will also be a built-in projector to show videos on a wall. In short, the iWatch will help you tie the world around your wrist.
It has been one of the most widely awaited announcements for worldwide gaming fans. Sony’s next generation gaming console PlayStation-4 is all ready for a launch and, expectedly, there is a high degree of excitement. The company has revealed some of the tantalising details about hardware, along with some amazing software features. It has DualShock 4 controller that syncs with a 3D camera, and the ability to play PS-4 games on the PlayStation Vita. It also includes a headset jack, built-in speaker, and a light bar on the front that changes colour to designate different players and match on-screen actions. So get set to grab the new gizmo which has come seven years after the launch of PS-3.
It’s the ultimate battle between the Dark Knight and his sworn enemies. On the one side are Batman, Batgirl, Catwoman, Robin, Commissioner Gordon and others and on the other side are the Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy and other creepy-crawlies. The stage is set for the ultimate battle between good and evil. This is no movie or animated series. It is a game of chess. The Batman Chessboard works by pressing on a Bat symbol when 50 LED lights are switched on around the chessboard, giving you a view of Gotham City underneath. The chess pieces represent each of the characters: Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Joker, Catwoman, Riddler, Penguin, and Commissioner Gordon, among others. If you are playing on Batman’s side, then you have to win at all cost.
That chocolate spreads joy is well known. What is not so well known is that it can spread light as well, at least in the hands of Alexander Lervik. The Swedish artist and stylist has designed a chocolate lampshade that melts with the heat emitted from the LED light it encloses. Called Lumière au Chocolate, it is completely dark when the LED is switched on but as the heat from the light starts melting the chocolate the first rays of light start to penetrate and holes form till the chocolate has completely melted down and solidifies at the base. This contraption will bring a glow on the faces of all chocolate gluttons.
BLOCKBUSTER FROM VERTU
Do you enjoy your tea or coffee fix in the morning or, for that matter, any time of the day? If yes, then you now have a chance to get more than one fix. The new Build-On-Brick mug is covered with studs and detents that attach to Lego and other building blocks. The blocks can be combined to customise your cup of coffee any way you want. You could make a plate with Lego blocks to hold a sandwich or some other edible. If you are a Lego fan, grab this mug and get a real fix.
BARBIE GOES DIGITAL
Is it a stroller? Is it a scooter? Scuddy is both. It is an electric stand-up scooter that can be folded into the shape of a trolley and wheeled from one destination to another. It can further be rolled into a small box-like package to be carried in a car, train or a plane. It can be driven to office and once there, folded up and carried inside without any parking hassles. As far as driving goes, Scuddy is no dud either. It has a two-horsepower motor and can be comfortably driven at 35 kmph. Its battery charges in about four hours and it is good to take you places for six hours.