Art and Communication of Space (ACOS) By Professor (Dr.) Shekhar Chandra Joshi (01-07 September 2022) at Lalit Kala Akademi New Delhi
Professor (Dr.) Shekhar Chandra Joshi from Almora, Uttarakhand, India; who is also a creator, curator, author, doctor, teacher and an art connoisseur coincidently correlates with the term ACOS (otherwise ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high-quality care to their Medicare patients) that is also his thought, choice, and concern depicted on papers space for spreading the joy and peace.
It is my immense pleasure and also an honor for me that I could be able to write about Prof (Dr.) Shekhar Chandra Joshi under whom and his able guidance I learnt a lot in the field of the art and education as well as a colleague in the university/ department today. I offer myself to write about him and his art. I am thankful for this novel cause. However other writers and critics are also always welcomed for the task.
He is thankful to the esteemed Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India for providing their Gallery to exhibit his Solo Show in 2022. He is also thankful to all those who supported him in conducting this exhibition.
In 2020, according to the Times of India as well as artist and one of the conveners of Chandra Prakash about his online painting exhibition (featuring 42 nail paintings) unveiled on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day on Sunday, Prof Joshi pays tribute to Covid-19 victims, the show featuring “nail paintings”. It was launched by WAYSAC, an organization working in the field of art and culture. Now this year, he is eager to receive the viewer’s view. The followings are a few comments regarding his works exhibited in the past.
In 2018, renowned artist Ms. Sangeeta Gupta who inaugurated the show in the Gallery- ‘A’ of AIFACS, New Delhi said that it is indeed a pleasure to view the work of Dr. Shekhar Joshi. He had evolved a new way/style of painting with his nails, which is unique and worth appreciating. An eminent artist Padmshree Ram V. SutarJi said “Milled speaking same the painting shows as a milled painter” to view his works. According to Dr. Smriti Bajpai, “All the paintings are very beautiful with emotions”. Prof. Biman B. Das Said, “All the exhibits have contemporary concept and essence”. According to Mr. Mahesh Tripathi, he says that “Speechless” is the right word for this awesome exhibition of Dr. Joshi. One of its kinds of unexceptional art forms as said. This is a rare art technique. Another comment “your abstract works really attracted me and the technique is also very interesting” said Mr. Aakshat Sinha. Almost all of the viewer’s comments are that it is good to work, nice work, very nice, splendid work, excellent work, and nice paintings. American artist and Prof. DuBasky, Historian Prof. A. K. Singh, renowned artist and critic Dr. Awdhesh Mishra (Editor- Kala Dirgha), Mr. Madan Jaira Ji (Bureau Chief, Hindustan), Mr. Chandrek Bishtand others have written about Prof Joshi’s art.
Viewing the artist’s work in the Gallery of AIFACS Mr. AnubhavSom said, “with due respect, Sir, ‘Dr. Shekhar Chandra Joshi’s “It’s always immense happiness to see something happening. That energizes my creative soul. Small things like nails that we often ignore can be used to create a wonderful and marvelous work of art lines that don’t merge but punches marks on the paper to speak about the emotion of the artist and the creator”.
Sabhi Kalkritiyan Sundar or hraday ko Chhun lene wali hain said, Mr. PravinSaini. It means all the creations are beautiful and heart-touching. “Amazed and nice piece of visual arts, It really attracts viewers’ attention and always brings new perception about the picture erected,” said Mr. Anil K Mishra. A visitor from Kasmir Mr. Manzoor Dolkoosaid that he was very happy to study the real value and understanding of Joshi’s work as they have the tradition ofKhatta Nakhun. Joshi has done an extreme job adding in paintings. LambeArseke bad Nakhan se Banai Painting Dekha. Bahut hi behtarin kam Joshi Ji ko hamari Shubhkamanayain said Mr. Ram Bali Prajapati. It means after a long time saw the painting made by Nakhun (Nail) Very good work, our best wishes to Joshi Ji. Artist Joshi, when he was Reader in Fine Arts at Assam University, experimented and did his first solo show of fingernails, titled “Fantasy of Raga: the Search for Ecstasy” at UP State Lalit Kala Academy Lucknow in 1999, and the next solo in this style at Nancy France in 2005.According to an artist, these paintings can be calledNakhakshat Chitra. Regarding his paintings, Dr. Anupam Sharma said two points’ one is- Interesting and good creation and the second colour scheme is fantastic.
Jiwan ke vibhin pahaluon ka prabhavi chitran dil ko chhun gaya (heart-touching effective depiction of different aspects of life) said Mr. Arvind Parik. Kala ki bariki aur bhavon se aout prot adbhut paintings hain (There are wonderful paintings filled with fine art and expression) said, Mr. Vijay Singh Mina. A very interesting concept one can see so much in each painting said Ms. Bandana (Madhubani). There is a long list of comments.
News Papers- Hindustan, Hindustan Times, Times of India, The Tribune, Dainik Jagaran, Amar Ujala, Uttar Ujala, Rashtriya Sahara, Shah Times, agencies like Press Trust of India (Ms. Priyanka Tikku, Mr. Kunal and others) and many others print and electronic media have published about the artist and his work through Akashwani, Doordarshan and other channels including YouTube interview with Prof Shekhar Chandra Joshi. Artist Joshi is grateful to all of them for their kind and wide coverage.
About the Solo Show “Art and Communication of Space (ACOS)”
Artist Dr. Shekhar Chandra Joshi is excited and feels proud to write about his recent work. The solo exhibition titled “Art and Communication of Space (ACOS)” contains more than fifty pieces of works painted by artists’ fingernails during the last couple of years majorly completed in the year 2022.
According to artist Dr. Joshi, he says that space is valuable for each one of us. We always try to fit in the space to create and communicate. Art and communication have no limitations on space.
However, it depends on the choice of the artist and his technique, medium and materials used in the space. Regarding his technique and medium particularly he has the limit of the grips of his fingernails to damage or emboss to paper. He is adamantly fond of continuing his creativity by working out in this unique way. Alike a sculptor who strokes up on a stone to carve or chisel to create a statue/ sculpture in the space, Dr Joshi maintains it on paper damaging with his fingers and nails in the space controlling or rolling it very carefully.
Artist says that he has expressed freely his concept, emotion, skill, and innovation within the space for his creativity using his fingernails and paddy coins as a tool without brushes applying on paper also by jointing the paper for extra-large size even pasting it on canvas for a wider space.
The theme is mostly based on man, nature and society where space has valued. He has drawn many faces with colours and without colours on paper, a lady of Kumaun, the late Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma etc. is executed and created by him. Alike he could able to depict the childhood face of ModiJi.
Lotus attracts the artist. It is the national flower of our country- India. Brahmkamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand. It is seen behind in the paintings of Dr Joshi. He says that he could not forget the track of Roopkund when he saw at first the uncountable and bloomed flowers of Brahmkamal. Our country is the land of Lord Ram and Krishna. Ram is an ideal says artist Shekhar. He imagined and depicted life during COVID-19.
He wishes to depict the importance of Indian culture, nature and society as shown in his paintings with a combination of art, skill and creativity comprising all related themes and titles. He is concerned with rural and urban life, environment, and migration as seen in his paintings titled “Jangal Devi”, “ Gaon main JeevanLouta”, and “Palayan”.
Shiva, Durga and their vehicles and instruments are also seen in the paintings. He has placed temples, signs and related forms in his many works. Love, peace and harmony are shown in his paintings. Nevertheless, the combination of musical modes and rhythms is played with milled colours.
The dream and imagination of artists around him nature, the globe and space are seen to find some facts, search and research to secrets of life and nature. The human being and its association reflect majorly in his paintings titled “Shram, Varshake Bad”, “Jangal main Aanand” etc. Some of the paintings have the same shape in the space with different colours. The forms on both sides or in the reverse are seen in the few paintings titled “Harela”. Harela, Festival of Uttarakhand is the consideration for the greenery.
He says that the forms are formless or with forms with the help of lines and colours. The forceful, soft and striking lines evolving in between the colours are the main attraction. The colours are a combination of soft; light opaque and transparent with the cold and warm colour
scheme. The tonal values of the paintings are depicted mostly in light. Few paintings are in dark tones. The harmony of the colours treatment is the major attraction of the paintings.
Of course, paintings shall communicate and also attract viewers to enjoy the beauty and its message as desired and executed by Dr. Joshi for the overall development of art, education, society and environment including his never-ending practice of art for him in general for peace of mind.
According to the artist, his creation and art is the result of observations, thoughts, long practice, and blessings of his Guru late Imtiyaz Ali, parents (Late Parvati Devi and Leeladhar Joshi), and teachers/ professors Dr. Purnima Pande, Dr. Avinash Bahadur Verma, Dr. Sarla Raman, late Ranvir Saxena, Sureshwar Sen, R. S. Bisht, B.N. Shukla, etc. He thanked them including almighty God who could help him to read the psyche of man, nature, and society in the real and abstract in-between these two. He derives and depicts all the forms of his imagination with a unique style. We should support the cause of art, education, environment, and society with joy, cleanliness, creativity, purity, and yoga and sports for the sound and good health of man, nature, and society in the space.
He thanked all who helped him and commented on his works directly or indirectly. He would like to thank Prof N.S. Bhandari, Vice Chancellor of Soban Singh Jeena University, and all the family members, authorities, teachers, staff, and students. He is grateful to Kumaun University, Korea Foundation, Assam University, and institutions abroad where he worked, participated, and exhibited. He worked at Silor Mahadev, Okhalkanda (Nainital), and UPSS Sarojini Nagar (Lucknow) passing courses from Lucknow University, Garhwal University and D. Litt awarded from Kumaun University from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to whom he had presented his portrait in return as regard.
He is grateful to the whole family of Joshi, Mainali, Sanwal, and all relatives especially family members, wife, and social worker Ms. Geeta Joshi; brother Indo-Canadian Eng. Kamlesh Chandra Joshi and his family, married sisters Ms. Pushpa, and Ms. Daya his husband Mr. Charu, elder son Eng. Surya Prakash his wife CA Tripti, and their sons Yashvardhan and Bhaawin; younger son Eng. Chandra Prakash Joshi, like family members Dr. Sagar Singh Bhaisora, and all the relatives, colleagues, students including research scholars, and friends for their care, love, support, and encouragement for the show throughout. Thanks to Mr Kaushal Kumar for the photographs and Mr Manoj for the framing of these paintings. He extends thanks to Mr Mukesh as well as Ms Surabhi for designing the catalogue in the form of an eBook. He also extends thanks to the Chairman, Secretary, Authorities, Senior Artists, and Staff including Gallery I/C of LKA.
He gratefully appeals to the media, critics, and writers for their kind visit and publicity of the solo show. Artist Dr. Joshi welcomes and thanks with regards to all of you for your kind gesture shown for it. I Hope, viewers shall enjoy the solo show of Dr. Shekhar Chandra Joshi at LKA’s gallery to availing their interest, comments, publicity and much more accordingly.
Dr. Sanjeev Arya