SUMMER EXPOSURE : ART SMART

Over the weekend, the otherwise barren lawns of Science Centre, Citylight, were strewn with youth lounging in languorous fashion. Armed with art and attitude, adding a summerish bougainvillea bloom to the serious grey architecture; they camped there from morning to night with a proud and confident presentation of their works.

Thanks to the generosity of SMC along with the support of the city mayor, final year students of VNSGU were able to share with denizens, their best created works of art and sculpture at the Science Centre. An apt venue for displaying art in Tapi town; it provides for the required height, distance and lights under which paintings large and small as well as sculptures tiny and majestic, can be comfortably viewed , in all their meaningful glory. Besides, the cool, cool air-conditioning makes for a breezy ambience since the air-con ducts are strategically placed.

Of course, setting up any exhibit is a tall order. But, then again, whats the point of being young and talented if you can’t make adverse circumstances work for you. After all, all the works on display were a result of endless hours of sweaty toil fuelled by the passion of perfection. Much care had been taken for appropriate placement and regarding the route that visitors were directed to, for absorbing in the art work visually, section wise. This was a fresh and unpretentious bouquet of Surat’s future artists, striking poetry with their elements of design.

There was a fine array of Indian aesthetics in lithographs, sketches, self portraits, wood cut prints, photography, sculptures made from clay, recycled cast iron and paper, along with graphic designs and product packaging .A jury from Baroda was invited to judge and announce the Jagdeep Smart awards for best students from the fields of painting, applied art and sculpture. Introduced this year, in memory of the late professor, to enhance and encourage the efforts of the art inclined interns.

In a town that is perceived as one which is still honing its art skills, we gratefully have the Smart legacy to live up to. Having been educated at prestigious institutions such as the Sir.J J School of Arts Mumbai, the Benaras Hindu University and M S University Baroda, the Smart family members have constantly strived to cultivate the culture of art in Surat.

Pioneered by the legendary Vasudeo Smart, whose works breathed life into traditional Indian tales. Converting holy verse to vision, tactfully depicting on canvas hundreds of little paintings to merge as one story, be it Ramayana or Jain transcripts. Two of his books- Roop Samhita and Bharat Na Bhint Chitro are collectors’ editions. Having traveled, taught and exhibited through the country, this critically acclaimed artist returned to home base to enrich local students with hands on experience, till he breathed his last.

His nephew, late Jagdeep Smart stepped into his shoes of not only being a brilliant artist but also a popular professor and poet. It was this multi awarded gentle soul who developed the fine arts course for Surat, with a vision to broaden the city’s art horizon. A vision that his son, Rajarshi Smart and the faculty at VNSGU now carry forward ; winner of the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy himself, Rajarshi’s colourful kitschy collection of ‘Autorickshaw art’ is in demand, doing the rounds at exhibits around various cities through India and shall some day soon, arrive in Surat.

Amongst the impressive art work on display at Science Centre, which I learnt upon closer inspection, was that of the young and upcoming talent Krishnapriya Smart. Needless to say, she has all the makings of being a chip off the old block.