The Wildings Festival: Part 2

A few months ago, I participated in Mirror of the Open Road, an exhibition of works by 23 artists as part of The Wildings Festival in London.

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It been over one hundred years since the suffragettes fought for the right to vote. The world can change many times over in that sort of time. But for some reason, an idea as simple as women's rights is still an ongoing struggle in many countries, including India.

The voices and actions of many women over several years has brought us where we are today, slightly better than our predecessors. Yet we still seem to be fighting the same battles. On the streets. At work. At home. These are vignettes of some of those everyday fights I see around me, where I live.

The three pieces take inspiration from the colours of the suffragette movement – purple, white and green – and re-imagine what they might mean in today's world.

'Privilege'

'Purity'

'Body'

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Mixed media (gouache, photo inks, pencil and pen) / 18.8 x 27.7cm

Singin' in the Rains / 2013

It's that time of the year again! Much thankses to Akash and Sushmeit for new music introductions.
This is also the first of my rain playlists to feature music by friends – Shilpa and Bindhu. Go say hi.

Older rain playlists here.
This might help too.

Kaapi & Cigarettes

Trusha and I are doing a weekly sketchbook swap.
Check it out here. Whee!

The Wilding Festival: Part 1

Earlier this year, Akhila had invited me to participate in 'Mirror of the Open Road' - an exhibition that is part of the multi-arts Wilding Festival. The event commemorates the memory of Emily Wilding Davison, a suffragette who gave up her life for the movement a 100 years ago.

28 artists from 8 countries are participating in the exhibition, which is at St. George's Church, London. I'm terribly excited to be a part of this, and really wish I could be there.

More images of my entry in a later post.

People in London, do visit the festival! :)


Mirror of the Open Road is open from 13th to 16th June, 2013. More details here.

Churches and Chaaya

I spent this year's Good Friday - Easter weekend in Cochin/Kochi, with SM and her family at their beautiful new home.

In the three years since my first visit here, I seem to have lost my tolerance for sitting down to sketch in extremely sunny spots - the yellow face... it burns our skin it doessss - Bangalore has spoilt me whattodo.

This year I finally learnt about the Way of the Cross, although I decided to stay back at the church and draw other Ammachis who weren't up for braving the sun either.

The heat notwithstanding, the weekend was full of hot, sweet chaaya, in mugs and cups and coffee pots. Thanks to SE chechi and Don saare, we took a loooong drive to Fort Kochi, to see the Santa Cruz Basilica (which was closed, for Easter) and Teapot, a cafe I have been wanting to visit for a very long time.

I wonder when I'll next get to spend time on a breezy balcony overlooking a never ending canopy of coconut trees...

Painted Postcard : 3

For Poo, who will fly away to NY soon.

Kutcheri Hopping

This year, Shoo and I planned a mini kutcheri-hopping session.
(Our new year's eve kutcheri plan got cancelled though, I was looking forward to that).

The first kutcheri we got to was Sandeep Narayan singing at Krishna Gana Sabha, accompanied by Nagai Sriram (violin), Dr. Umayalpuram K Sivaram (mridangam) and Dr.Karthik (ghatam).  Gradwolf came along for this one. Highlight was having such a senior artiste like UKS autographing the drawing and showing it off to some people around!

I drew Sandeep a year ago (accompanied by Shoo, again), and Dr. Karthik early in 2011- this time I think I've managed to get the resemblance better. I didn't realise that until someone named all the artistes I drew without any prompting.

Sandeep's kutcheri was followed by Bombay Jayshree at Music Academy, but not before a quick stopover at the sabha canteen. Some day I will manage to get tickets/seats at Music Academy that will give me a better (closer) view of the artistes. Until then I will make the most of my balcony views.

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List of songs from Sandeep's Krishna Gana Sabha kutcheri

Il Gatto Nero

He's suave. He's Italian. He wears a bow tie.
Meowr.

For cat-obsessed P, on her birthday.
Yes, he's related to the french fellow.

The Shape of Jazz @ Plantation House

Concerts and gigs seem to be the only places I draw at these days. There never seems to be much time otherwise to sit down with a book and colours.

Aman Mahajan and Mishko M'ba played us music inspired by Ornette Coleman. "It is...fr(h)ee jazz..." as Mishko said in his lovely accent. If I ever catch Mishko playing again, I am going to spend the whole time drawing just him and his long long long dreadlocks (ankle length if you must know).

And the next time, I'll manage a better panorama of Shalini's store. I'd love to just sit and draw only the clothes even!

Konarak Reddy @ Plantation House

A new (and biggest yet) book inaugurated at another gig at Plantation House. I never would have thought that PH could hold as many people as there were that day!

It's easy to drift off into a dream while Konarak Reddy plays. But it's definitely worthwhile paying attention to his hands moving across the guitar too. Aah, such beautiful music.