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HELLO MONALISA
Mona Lisa (La Gioconda), 1503-1506
The Concept
Leonardo da Vinci the scientist, mathematician inventor and artist--the creator of Mona Lisa is regarded as an icon of 21 century. Five hundred years later since the famous art work was completed, Habiart Foundation in association with Genesis Art Gallery launches an initiative to discover the mystery of Mona Lisa and make an effort to understand it in the present day context and in contemporary art language.
Twelve artists from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Italy and U.S.A. will interpret the famous Mona Lisa in their individualistic styles. At the end of 2006 an exhibition of all the art works had been mounted.
The Enigma
Mona Lisa - a woman, dressed in the Florentine fashion of her day and seated in a visionary, mountainous landscape. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa on a piece of pine wood in the year 1506. Never in the history of art has one painting been admired to such an extent. The Mona Lisa's enigmatic expression, which seems both alluring and aloof, has given the portrait universal fame. Why is the Mona Lisa Smiling? She really seems to look at us and seems to have a mind of her own. Like a living being, she seems to change before our eyes and looks a little different every time we come back to her. This is Leonardo's famous invention which the Italians call sfumato - the blurred outline and mellowed colors that allow one form to merge with another and always leave something to our imagination.
Normally Leonardo recorded in his notebooks the histories of model sittings; but nowhere is there found any records of the Mona Lisa model sitting. Why is that? Who posed for him? Did Leonardo paint himself? This theory is supported by analyzing the facial features of Leonardo's face and that of the famous painting.
The Present Connections
Leonardo - the Renaissance Man is presented as a model of Rationalism. The European Union has an extensive program called the Leonardo Da Vinci Project to train and place new high tech workers. A Canadian management-training program uses the inventor's famed improvisational prowess as a model. A New Age site celebrates Leonardo's vegetarianism. A yoga related site hails Leonardo as one of its Masters of Light. Leonardo's anatomical drawings make him one of the first great Medical Illustrators. The Medical Illustration unit of an Australian medical school celebrates Leonardo's anatomical drawings.
In 2005 Mona Lisa found a new setting in the Louver Museum in Paris. The celebrated book “Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown has broken all records and has become a best seller. The world is again captivated by the magic of Leonardo Da vinci. Our project is an innovative way of paying tribute to his genius.
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IQBAL HUSSAIN
Born in Heera Mandi and the son of a courtesan, Iqbal Hussain is one of the most controversial artists whose reputation as a maverick remains intact. He lives and works in Lahore Pakistan.
He immortalizes his subjects in paintings that belong to Lahore’s Old Walled City of courtesans, dancers musicians, and the Ravi River landscapes. He uses mirrors within his paintings with great sophistication, juxtaposing images of himself and sometimes the subject.
His paintings have been requested by the Jordanian Princess Wijdan Ali for the Jordanian Gallery of Fine Arts and World Bank. His paintings were the only ones from Pakistan selected for UNESCO Headquarter Prize in 1995 in Paris.
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SHRIJAN RAJ BHANDARI
Shrijan Raj Bhandari is a self taught artist. He has held many solo shows 1989 (Nepal -India Cultural Centre, Kathmandu),1992 (Siddhartha Art Gallery , Kathmandu),1997 (Kathmandu Art Gallery, Kathmandu), 2000 (GTZ, Lalitpur), 2001 (Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan). He has won many awards Consolation Prizes (Org. Yuwa Bouddha Samuh, 1984; Org. HMG/Nepal, 1985; Inter College Art Competition, 1987; Org. Vishwo Hindu Sangh, 1989). (Org. NAFA 1985); First Prize (Org. NAFA, 1989); Third Prizes (Org. Ministry of Education and Culture HMG/Nepal & UNICEF, 1990; NAFA).
He is very popular in Nepal and is counted among the senior artists of Nepal.
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BRATIN KHAN
Bratin Khan completed his BFA in painting from Vishva Bharati University, Santiniketan 1993. An outstanding student; he won the Merit Scholarship from Vishwa Bharti for 1991,1992,1993.He lives and works in Kolkata. He considers Suhas Roy his mentor.
His work has been sold at the Christie's Auction in Aid of the Concern for India Foundation in March 2001 and again in March 2002. His paintings are in several collections in India and in the USA, UK, Mauritius, Dubai, Indonesia and Germany.
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MANOJ BABU MISHRA
Manoj Babu Mishra’s devotion to painting and life-long search for the unknown has acquired for him a unique place in Nepal. He has published many novels, short stories and art books. His books, World History of Plastic Arts (1983) and Atelier Hermitage (2004) deserve a special mention. He has represented Nepal in International Art Symposium in Finland (1995), Japan(1985), Germany (1994) and in Saarc Nations several times. He held his first solo in Dhaka in 1967 , since then he has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions.
He was commissioned by Late His Majesty to do portraits of the Royals. His art is in collection in Japan, Germany, Burma, Italy , Finland and Pakistan to name a few.
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SANATAN DINDA
Born in 1971, in Kolkata Sanatan Dinda graduated (B. V. A.) from Govt. College of Arts & Crafts, Kolkata in 1993 and stood 1st Class First (Western Style). Among the many awards and accolades he has received are the West Bengal State Academy Certificate of Merit in 1989; Govt. College of Arts & Crafts Annual Exhibition award for Painting & Graphics in 1990 and the Creative Painting Award by the Birla Academy in 2000. He lives and works in Kolkata.
His works are found in the permanent collection of the Duchess of Kent – Buckingham Palace, UK, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Belgium Consulate, RPG Enterprises Ltd. (Mumbai & Kolkata), Reliance Group (Mumbai), Ballarpur Industries Limited as well as in numerous private collections in SACO – Springdale, USA, Germany, Australia, Holland and Paris.
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TARAK GARAI
Tarak Garai is well known as a sculptor and painter. He creates forms not only on canvas but also in clay, stone, wood and metal. He has fashioned most of his works on definite figural subjects. Mother and child is one recurring theme in his work. He lives and runs his own art school in Kolkata. He is well known for experimentation, often drawing energy from tribal art. His technical innovations are pursued by artists and critics with interest.
Tarak is acknowledged as a sculptor of considerable talent and a first rate craftsman also. His works are in many renowned collections, to name a few those of Shiv Nadar, B.K Modi, Neeru Poddar and in many prestigious art institutions. He has won many awards, a student of Santi Niketan Tarak has been sculpting for the last thirty years.
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SRIMATI LAL
Srimati Lal studied Fine Art at Western Mary land College, USA , she was the muse, curator and student of famous artist F. N. Souza from 1993 to 2002 . She lives and works in Kolkata.
She has exhibited her art widely to much critical acclaim. To quote a famous art critic “With a dazzling brilliant freshness breathing the spirit of Mattise, Russian iconography and the passionate intensity of her Guru Souza , Srimati’s art has a flavour uniquely its own.” She has exhibited this year in London at Nehru Centre.
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SURUCHI CHAND
Suruchi Chand is well recognized in India for her Draupadi series, which she painted in 1985. Indian motifs have been center staged in her creations like Hanuman and characters from the Mahabharat. She has often drawn her inspiration from contemporary India and experimented by recreating works in miniature technique. She works and lives in Mumbai.
She created the hanging sculptures in 1990 at the CMC ltd Mumbai office. Her works are in collection of major institutions in India and abroad. She also served on the art selection committee of NGMA. She was invited to deliver talks in several universities abroad.
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BARBARA PIETRASANTA
Barbara Pietrasanta was born in Milan and studied at the Brera Art School and then at Literature Faculty of Statal in Milan. In 1984 she moved to New York where she began work on her personal project, stimulated by visiting and living in this multi-racial city with all the contradictions of its social fabric. Following that she set up the Anyway Advertising Agency in Milan and is its Creative Director today. She has exhibited in New York, San Francisco, Zagreb, Milan, Rome, Tirin and many other Italian cities. Barbara has realized several artistic installations for National Exposition as Pitti in Florence. She has painted frescos in USA using an original technique as well as murals in many Milanese buildings and was invited by Christie’s to do a charity contemporary art installation ‘Red Windows’, with other famous international artists. Barbara recently completed a cycle of frescos of the Via Crucis for the Sacra Famiglia Church in Cinisello Balsamo, Milan. In 1997 she won the Jury prize at "Filippo Sassetti Premium”.
In 1999 the Milan Provincial Council purchased two of her paintings. One of her works is on permanent exhibition in the MIMAC in the Picture-Gallery of Tricase and in the town Hall of Modica. Since, 2005 she is a member of Scientific Committee of ‘ Melegnano Castle” the future Museum of the Province of Milan. She teaches Art Direction at the Istituto Europeo of Design of Milan, cooperates with Politecnico University of Milan and she teaches “ Advertising Design” at ZhongGuan Vocational Tranning School of Shanghai, China.
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THOMAS EASLEY
Thomas M. was raised at Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He lives and works in New York. U.S.A. As an artist Easley sees himself first and most importantly as a professional obligated to maintain those standards laid down years ago by the Greek and European masters. And second, with the freedom of those standards he searches for inspiration to create meaningful and when possible, beautiful long lasting works of art. From miniatures to detailed architectural landscapes painted in oil, to exquisite watercolor nudes on paper, to "extreme expressionism" and abstracts rendered with acrylics, Easley never fails to captivate. Easley is a master not of one discipline, but of diversity. He has written many books , Elephant and The knee is very popular.
His paintings are exhibited in major galleries around the world including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Medici Gallery (London), Londra Palace (Italy), Habiart Gallery The Times Of India Group (India). His works are to be found with some of the world's greatest collectors, from the Prince of Wales to Dr. Karan Singh.
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YUSUF
A renowned artist, Yusuf has held many solo shows across the country as well as participated in numerous group exhibitions. Through a linear language of which he has acquired mastery, Yusuf reveals his essential preoccupation, lines in space. He starts with the simplest strategies of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines to build up pictorial situations of great complexity and sophistication. An intuitive perception of geometro-dynamics and acute form sensibility lead him to the sublime structures of human awareness. He lives and works in Bhopal, M.P.
His works are found in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi; MP Kala Parishad, Bhopal; Orissa Lalit Kala Academy , Bhuveneshwar; Nag Foundation, Pune; and with many private collectors in India and aboard.
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SANJAY BHATTACHARYA
Sanjay Bhattacharya studied in Govt college of Art Kolkata. He has emerged as a major painter of India. His delicate water colour paintings in British wash techniques are simply enchanting. Since 1988 he has had many solo shows and participated in many group shows. His solo exhibition Rajeev Gandhi Landscape of a man 1994 is still remembered as an important landmark in art exhibitions.
His works in collection of World Bank, R.P.G Group, I.T.C , J.K Group, Parliament House ,Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust , India Today Group, Hilton to name a few.
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