2008 Exhibition Visit – Kriti Art Gallery Baroda, India

Kriti Art Gallery

On 3^rd April 2008 there was one more art gallery inauguration in Baroda, Gujarat, India.

We are please to have invitation from that gallery. The name of the gallery is Kriti Art Gallery.

The theme of the exhibition is “the celestial gaze”. In which painting of goddesses are displayed. The paintings are created by Shrimat Maharaja Ranjitsingh Gaekwad.

Ranjitsinh Gaekwad is a versatile artist. Apart from a large body of paintings, using a wide range of mediums, he has created a number of murals and sculptures. In this show at Kriti Art Gallery, launched by Gandevikar Jewellers Pvt. Ltd he has shown paintings of Indian Goddesses such as Mahalaxmi, Saraswati and Tuljabhavani besides a few portraits of ordinary people.

Interestingly, the goddesses have faces which are both iconic and human. In the background are seen rich Indian motifs such as swans, flowers and peacocks. There is a Mahalaxmi with a graceful and nimble figure wearing Maharastrian nose ring.

There is also another Mahalaxmi wearing a sari in the Gujarati syle. Here, the fixed divine gaze is reminiscent of Hindu and Jain idols. The painting of Tuljabhavani is a superbly executed work of art, richly resplendent in vermillion reds and ochre yellow. It is imbed with a remarkably powerful presence. Interestingly, the face is undoubtedly divine and, at the same time, with benevolent expression. Her vahana, the lion, has been treated with a robust playful quality.

The portraits presented in the show are an ample proof of his genius as portrait painter. It is evident from theses portraits that the artist has a remarkable understanding of the man on the street.

I will publish photos as soon as I get it. The environment of the gallery is really awesome. I wish best of luck to gallery for its bright future.