A modern art Caur' célèbre

We showed the industry that female artists could attract the same audiences as the big male stars.” This quote by artist Sarah McLachlan epitomises the career of artist Arpana Caur. She is among the rare female veteran artists who is a pioneer of modern art in the country. She has a sense of consistency in her works which makes her stand apart.

The National Gallery of Modern Art Bengaluru is opening its doors to a retrospective of the phenomenal artist spanning four decades of dedication towards art. Alongwith her artistic explorations which have been nothing short of a journey of aesthetic prowess coupled with an exquisite narrative, Caur has explored the various narratives and stories she intends to express in such an understandable manner.

This particular exhibition offers a wide spectrum of Caur’s works, which are embedded in melancholic agony and cathartic temperament. Somewhere, a touch of philosophy provides a refreshing context to her works.

Arpana Caur, among the names in modern Indian art, has been a crucial presence even in a historical context. Caur is one of the few women artists of India who started her career as an artist in post-Independent India. Her art influences are derived from Punjabi folk literature, pahadi (hilly) miniatures and writings of her mother, Padmashri Smt. Ajeet Caur, amongst many others. Caur has a very significant trajectory amongst modern Indian artists through her immensely emotive works that deal with loss, pain, death and violence. As a central figure, ‘women’ often occupy a major space in her repertoire. Most of her art is driven by her own personal experiences, trauma and situations surfacing in her life.

While many of her works are a response to violence and war, Caur has also frequently used icons like Kabir, Buddha, Guru Nanak as symbols of peace and spirituality in her painted canvases. Apart from her drawings and paintings, she has also designed and installed public murals on a big scale in India, Japan and Germany.

The art of Arpana Caur confesses to the dualities of life. It is a sincere rumination of her personal trials and experiences, incorporating local and worldly circumstances. Arpana Caur was born and raised in an environment drenched in art, culture, music, and history.

One striking work in the show is the Pyar hua Ikraar hua which evokes nostalgia. The two figures are reminiscent of Raj Kapoor and Nargis from the 60s movie Shree 420. The song was a romantic marvel during the time which might have stayed etched in Caur’s mind. The figures depicts the relationship between two lovers, which is not very bold and has a simplicity to it. The retrospective is a tribute to the artist and the human being Arpana Caur, who also runs a free school for slum children. A rare indulgence, it shouldn’t be missed.

Catch Arpana Caur — Woman power — A retrospective at NGMA.

— The writer is an art curator and art expert.