Research

Nasreen Mohamedi's work- Untitled.

Nasreen Mohamedi:

Nasreen Mohamedi was born in Karachi in 1937 and brought up in the vibrant city of Bombay. After graduating from the St. Martin’s School of Art in London from 1954 to 1957, she returned to India and joined the Bhulabhai Institute of Art and became one of the leading artists working in the non-figurative medium. Mohamedi travelled across Europe and the inspiration behind her work ranges from the work of Kandinsky and Malevich to the quiet desert sand dunes. Her body of work seems like a abstract representation of the quiet, structural undertones of nature that one rarely experiences. For the viewer, it brings the idea of the moment of calm before a storm to the forefront. Mohamedi lived through a time of war as 1947 marked the end of 200 year old British colonization and brought independence to a country that had been completely debilitated by a struggle for freedom. One may attribute the abstract nature of Mohamedi’s work to the disillusionment caused by the time she lived in. Pinning Nasreen Mohamedi’s work to a particular art movement has its own obstacles. The artist’s work is largely abstract and difficult to read. Apart from that, she also refuses to title her work which makes associating any kind of meaning to her paintings or photographs extremely challenging. Her work may also be interpreted as a contradiction to the place she lived in. After attaining its independence, India was growing exponentially in the fields of economy and culture and Mohamedi’s simple, unstructured style does not seem like a literal testament to her surroundings. Her work is also thought of as feminist as she seems to be in rebellion of her surroundings. Nasreen Mohamedi died in 1990 of Parkinson’s disease.

http://www.frieze.com/issue/review/nasreen_mohamedi/

http://apt5.asiapacifictriennial.com/artists/artists/nasreen_mohamedi

http://artcritical.com/2003/12/01/nasreen-mohamedi/

http://www.iniva.org/library/archive/people/m/mohamedi_nasreen

Miniature Mughal Art:

A art movement that marked one of the most powerful and glorious reigns in the history of India, miniature Mughal art can be described as a “true mirror of its times” (Indian-art.net) It was developed under the reign of kings Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan. Miniature Mughal art was characterized by small, realistic images of literally, everything. Mughal paintings were an amalgamation of Persian, Indian and Islamic styles. Often, because the rulers wanted proof of their hunting ventures, the artists would accompany them which may be why the paintings seem to have a sense of grandeur (also due to the use of colors like gold, silver, deep yellows and reds) and extravagance to them. Most miniature paintings require a meticulous turn of the hand, immense attention and patience. The themes of most paintings being naturalistic, miniature paintings are often seen as celebration of the environment. Because of the Mughal’s prolific rule, miniature painting spread to other dynasties as well. For example: Damodar miniature painting also has its roots in Mughal miniature painting. This art form was also introduced to create an awareness of the Mughal power. Under kings Akbar and Babur this art form flourished and lead to the creation of masterpieces such as the Akbarnama and Surat e khana. This art form was supported mostly by the wealthy and also acts as a foundation for other related styles, such as the:

Mandu - The Style flourished during 15th Century during the period of Gayas Khilzi, dominated by Persian influence.

Chaurpanchashika - The early style prior to Mughals, responsible for the paintings of Champawati and Bilhan.

Western Gujrat - The style prior to Mughals in which mainly Jain texts were illustrated.

Imperial Mughal - The painting style flourished when the Mughals were dominating.

Sub-imperial Mughal - The style having regional and Akbari influence.

Bazar Mughal - The late paintings of Mughal Period, mainly for sale.

Avadh - Provincial Mughal

Murshidabad - Provincial Mughal

Some historians also argue that this art form was brought to India by emperor Humayun after his exile as he returned to his throne with Persian artists and gave rise to a new art form.

http://www.indianminiature.org/artSchools.htm

http://www.damodararts.com/mughal-miniature-art.htm

http://mughalminiatures.blogspot.in/

Jesuits at Akbar's Court.