MF Husain

The Indian master is unparalleled in his artistic depth, breadth and output. Husain is where most collections begin and end. The decade ahead will only further cement his status as an artistic leader in India and an ambassador for Indian art throughout the world.

FN Souza (1924-2002)

As the founder of the Progressive Artist Group, Souza was the intellectual fount that brought diverse artists ranging from Husain to Raza together to create a new vanguard for Indian art. The artist and his works are very much the embodiment of passion, as alternately a bon vivant or an enfant terrible, who was obsessed with women, nature and religion. There is so much still left to discover about Souza whose operatic life could influence future artists and writers for generations.

VS Gaitonde (1924-2001)

With so few works readily available from a lifetime of solitary painting endeavour, Gaitonde may not be as well known as his contemporaries but amongst the cognoscenti, he is considered a sublime master whose style cannot be replicated. There is no one else that has the ability to render fire, air and mist from ether into two dimensions. While I would be curious to analyse his work scientifically to see what gives his painting its characteristic luminescent glow, I also very much enjoy the simple pleasures of sitting in front of my work in quiet contemplation.

Manjit Bawa

He may be better known for his charming works that juxtapose bold colour planes with whimsical figures and animals that continue to grow in popularity but there is another side of Bawa’s works that appeal to me. He is capable of extremely fine draughtsmanship and powerful imagery that has a socio-political bent. Though under the radar at the moment, more attention is being paid to his entire body of work following his recent passing.

Atul Dodiya

He is one of the most talented, perfectionist and intellectual painters of our time. He bridges the generations from the Progressives to the youngest artists coming out of art school today, the latter of whom owe him a stylistic debt as one of the first artists bring a post-modern aesthetic into Indian art. While his style is mercurial, his works always surprise. Atul Dodiya will grow in greater esteem as the decade continues.

Tyeb Mehta

I envision that within the next decade the curatorial and collecting demand for Tyeb Mehta’s work will increase exponentially now that he has unfortunately passed on. His meticulously rendered paintings are homages to the downtrodden of our society. In contrast to these works, with his series of Hindu goddesses, he exhibits a deep understanding of classical Indian texts and philosophies that one does not see too often in current contemporary art practices.

Arpita Singh

Like the artist herself who maintains a demure façade, Arpita Singh’s works with their pastel candy colours look benign. But that is only until one sees more closely the strong subject matter and violent brushstrokes that give her works a raw intensity in an otherwise domestic or feminine scene. As a successful artist working in a male-dominated field, she inspires legions of followers and students for being a great painter in her own right.

Rameshwar Broota

One should say that Broota is almost sculptural in his highly individualised artistic technique of scraping layers and creating works by removing paint. Having a relatively small body of work will only makes his appeal stronger. In some of his early works which I have, I see humour and subversiveness in how he views society and its inequities. His recent works have philosophical underpinnings about nature, man, beast and universe that to me begin a visual dialogue about humankind and existence.

Jitish Kallat

As a young artist who has achieved much during a relatively short career, Jitish Kallat is extremely driven. I think many are drawn to his level of technical proficiency along with the urban themes that underlie his recent works. The sprawling city, its classes and underclasses in a jumbled explosion of line and colour are reflections of chaotic times in India where Jitish Kallat serves as a chronicler of the moment.

V Ramesh

A painters painter, V Ramesh’s works are rooted and he uses metaphorical allegory to emphasise the ides of importance of the Human Body. One of the art worlds’ better kept secrets!

For more Paintings on Old Master click on  this link

“For me painting is like a hobby and it feels good when you do something like this to help people or spread a message. I am a silent philanthropist and I will continue to be so,” says Shah Rukh.

For Salman it’s ‘not a hobby but a passion’. “I have always painted when my heart has told me to. Since I know a particular art which is over and above acting, I should dedicate it to charity to help people who are less fortunate than us,” he says.

Salman adds, “Through Being Human I have interacted with a lot of needy people. I have been moved by those interactions. Though I earn crores through my movies, my paintings and Being Human initiatives make me most happy. We all have social responsibilities and I’m only trying to do my part.”

Salman Khan being an avid painter is a fact that’s now as old as the hills. The brawny actor is known to even gift his exquisite paintings to those whom he considers truly special. The latest person to benefit from Salman’s generosity and love is none other than Aamir Khan

Aamir’s performance in Ghajini has surely caught Salman’s fancy. Now one will have to wait and watch if it manages to impress the janta-janardhan when the film opens across cinema halls this Christmas.

Asin unveils the Ghajini paintings made by Salman Khan

The rest of the year, we often think about getting off the couch for some cultural enrichment, but then Bravo puts on a “Top Chef” marathon and, well, there’s always next week.

But not this year. It’s time to turn on the TiVo and go out to experience art, live music, theater and dance. It’s not just good for your brain, it’s fun, too.

1. See a Pulitzer Prize-winning play: Tracy Letts won the prestigious literary award for “August: Osage County,” his 3 1/2-hour family drama. Sound ponderous? Well, it’s not. Starring Estelle Parsons as a pill-popping Oklahoma matriarch, “Osage County” is a wickedly funny roller coaster that bowled over Broadway and is now wowing audiences on tour. Jan. 5-10 at ASU Gammage, Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard, Tempe. $19.75-$63. 480-965-3434, asugammage.com.

2. Visit the world-renowned Heard Museum: Like the Grand Canyon, it’s a popular tourist attraction that Arizona residents often never get around to visiting. Devoted to Native cultures of the Southwest and around the world, it features both archeological objects and contemporary art. For example, coming in April is “pop! Popular Culture in American Indian Art.” Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12 (discounts for seniors and kids). 602-252-8848, heard.org.

3. See a show at the historic Orpheum Theatre: Built in 1929, the wonderfully kitschy architectural landmark, complete with gargoyles, was renovated in 1997 and now hosts concerts, theater and dance. Next up: Comic musician Stephen Lynch on Jan. 8. 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $29.50 (plus fees). 602-262-7272, ticketmaster.com.

4. Support local music: A bit old to hit the clubs in search of the next breakout rock band from the Valley? Then sit back with a beer and salute the latest class of inductees to the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame: Long John Hunter, Scotty Spenner and Big Nick and the Gila Monsters. Performers include Chuck Hall and Hans Olson. Jan. 10 at the Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $10 suggested donation. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com, azblueshof.com.

5. Support Arizona playwrights: Theatre Artists Studio, an artist-run co-op, is committed to nurturing the talents of local actors, directors and writers. Next up it presents the world premiere of Micki Shelton’s “Medea’s Ghost,” a drama about two women connecting from opposite sides of prison bars. Jan. 29-Feb. 13 at 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, Scottsdale. 602-765-0120, thestudiophx.org.

6. Buy local art: You don’t have to be a millionaire to collect art. Help jump-start the local economy by finding affordable paintings from the diverse artists who show during First Fridays, downtown Phoenix’s free self-guided galley tour. 6-10 p.m. Jan. 1. artlinkphoenix.com.

7. Introduce your kid to theater: There’s something magical about live theater. For proof, just watch the faces of the kids who see shows from Childsplay, Tempe’s acclaimed professional troupe for young audiences. The company’s musical “Peter and the Wolf” toured venues around the national late last year and soon comes home for a run. Jan. 30-March 13 at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Blvd. $20-$25. 480-350-2822, childsplayaz.org.

8. Introduce yourself to opera: It’s the epitome of “culture” that often seems intimidating. But if any opera will convert you, it’s the gorgeous “La Boheme” (which inspired Broadway’s “Rent” – how’s that for cool?). Arizona Opera’s production runs Jan. 29-31 at Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $29-$130. 602-266-7464, azopera.org.

9. Give modern dance a chance: Another intimidating genre. But even if you’re not ready for the pioneering Martha Graham Dance Company, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in March, you are sure to get a kick out of it when the same venue hosts “The Best of MOMIX,” a retrospective by the whimsically inventive company that tends toward the Cirque du Soleil side of visual spectacle. Jan. 21-22 at 7380 E. Second St. $47. 480-994-2787, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.

10. Get in touch with your inner artist: Art isn’t just for seeing and hearing, it’s for doing. One of the best places to get your hands dirty, figuratively or literally, is the studios at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., which offer classes in dance, acting, ceramics and more

But one charity, which has spent decades quietly shuffling artworks into busy hospitals, is beginning to change this.
Paintings in Hospitals, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this week, is devoted to reforming the health system’s attitude towards the benefits of exhibiting art. They loan works from their collection of over 4,800 pieces to hospitals and hospices around the country, and organise a yearly artists’ residency programme in a hospital ward.
Their task is vast, and routinely comes up against the debate: if a hospital has money to spend, wouldn’t it be better spent on life-saving equipment than on pretty pictures? However, against the odds, and with the staunch backing of an impressive team of supporters (big names in the art world contribute regularly to their fundraising auctions, and the Prince of Wales visited their collection at the military hospital Selly Oak in Birmingham on Tuesday to show his support) the charity has survived, and is beginning to see remarkable signs of its influence spreading.
Director Stuart Davie says: “Some hospitals have begun to return the works we’ve loaned them, because they’ve been able to start collecting for and curating their own spaces. In 10 years many more hospitals will be fostering their own art departments.”
The secret to the charity’s success lies in their elegant and considered collection, so if you’re thinking “Oh, I bet it’s all pansies, bears and balloons”, then you’re wrong. Their market-friendly collection includes works by Mary Fedden, Bridget Riley, and Richard Long, and they’ve even received a generous contribution of contemporary art from Charles Saatchi.
“Hospitals should think of the art as an investment,” says Davie. “Research shows that there is, on average, a one-day reduction in the length of stay when patients are exposed to art simply because it makes them – and their staff – feel better.”
The research he mentions was conducted at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital between 1998 and 2002, and it did produce some extraordinary findings about how images alleviate pain; the duration of labour, for example, was on average 2.1 hours shorter when women gave birth in front of a decorative artwork that distracted attention from the medical equipment in the delivery room.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with its own collection of more than 1,000 art objects, is the queen bee of artistic hospitals – “our goal is to make other organisations like theirs,” says Davie. The airy open space in the centre of the hospital, with tall sculptures, a water feature, a tapestry and colourful murals that span three storeys, is so uplifting – particularly during their weekly live Thursday lunchtime concerts – that you feel you could fly a kite. Only small giveaway signs reveal that it’s a hospital: a man combs his wife’s hair, half the listeners are wearing slippers.
Greta Trevers, who was recently discharged from the hospital, comes back for regular check-ups, and stays for afternoon tea in the hospital café next to The Acrobat, a colossal piece of curved profiled steel by Allen Jones, thought to be the largest indoor sculpture in Europe. “I always sit here because I love seeing children’s eyes light up as they walk past it,” she says.
She knows the hospital’s entire collection by heart, from the Paolozzi prints, the mobile of fish at the top of the building, and the jewel in the crown: Veronese’s Renaissance masterpiece The Resurrection, which adorns the hospital chapel.
“When I stayed in here I would visit a different floor every day, just to see the art,” says Trevers.
The real reward of the work of the charity is in the story-telling and the small interactions that offer moments of escapism. If it can in any way alleviate the loneliness of a Christmas spent in a hospital ward, at least for some patients and staff, it’s got to be worth its weight in gold.