Monday, May 2, 2011

“Over the past several decades, the artists of the Mithila communities have produced an astonishingly brilliant body of works on paper, drawing on their centuries old iconographic traditions and techniques as well as evolving new imagery and approaches that reflect global transformations. I have rarely encountered such a highly concentrated number of exceptionally gifted artists. They are a treasure!”

Lawrence Rinder
Director of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Early reviewers of the MITHILA PAINTING: THE EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM report,

"How can one generalize about a genre that includes: Baua Devi's lush interpretations of the Krishna stories; Pinki Kumari's de- and re-construction of the classic ritual kohbar motif; Priyansha's extraordinary homage to a Botticelli Nativity; Rani Jha's powerful and disturbing depiction of the abortion clinic; Shalinee Kumari's iconic visions of capitalism and global warming" says John H. Bowles, author of Painted Songs & Stories: The Hybrid Flowerings of Contemporary Pardhan Gond Art.

While Joanna Williams, one of the most respected South Asia Art Historians in the USA and professor of Art History at the University of California, Berkeley stated that, "in 40 paintings on paper this exhibit updates an ancient wall painting tradition ranging from the early deities and marriage images to contemporary narratives and social and feminist themes."

Sunday, February 27, 2011