JIVYA SOMA MASHE   “LIVE THE HEART”

bCA Galleries is proud to present the works of legendary Warli tribal artist, Jivya Soma Mashe. He is the pioneer of this unique art form which many have tried to duplicate but have never been able to match his standards. Hs works will be exhibited at:

“LATTUADA STUDIO”
Via Dell’Annunciata, 31 Milan
Tel 02 / 29 00 00 71 Fax 02 / 65 92 631
www.lattuadastudio.it   artecentro@lattuadastudio.it

24th May – 31st August, 2006

Opening:

Wednesday 24th May 2006 at 7.00 p.m.
The artist will be attending the opening.

Since the times of the early cave men, man has tried to communicate using images and art. Tribal art has also had its origin in the need to convey ideas in the absence of a written script. The origin of Warli art has a rather unique story. This art form was initially only practiced by the tribal women at the time of auspicious occasions when they would draw using rice paste and twigs on the family walls. Jivya Soma Mashe lost his mother at a young age. Due to this trauma the boy would not speak and instead took to drawing in the dust to convey his feelings. Soon the members of his tribe began to take notice of his unique talent and when Jivya was felicitated with the National Award in 1976, Warli art came to the forefront.

This unusual art form is immediately identifiable by the little triangular figures that dominate the pictures. The two inverted triangles joined at the apex signify the balance between the masculine and feminine and between man and nature. The circular formation of the community spiral in some works speaks of the unity of this little tribe which though so close to India’s busiest metro – Mumbai, has still retained its unique identity. The divinities are all female Goddesses and Mother Earth occupies special significance as the tribe’s chief occupation is agriculture. The various themes depicted are everyday village scenes, festivals like Diwali, marriage ceremonies, folktales and legends come alive under Jivya’s  masterful rendition, modern themes like train and bus journeys are also finding place as the community slowly embraces modernization.

bCA Galleries

bCA Galleries works on an international level to ensure a cross cultural exchange between artists and art lovers globally. We have noticed a trend of art getting rather localized, showing the works of artists from a particular city. This finally leads to a paucity of ideas and visual stimulation and ultimately a sense of ennui amongst art lovers who have a thirst for the unusual. bCA has stepped in assuage this drought by bringing European artists to India and simultaneously showing the works of Indian artists abroad.  This cross-cultural exchange presents untold possibilities of the impact it will have on the future of the Indian art scene.

bCA Galleries has been instrumental in organizing Namaste India, exhibiting the works of 50 Indian artists in different locations in Italy. These artists have been well received and of them four, Rajesh Pullarwar, Sachin Shinde, Jayant Gajera and N. Kanhaiya, were selected for another exhibition organised by bCA Galleries titled “Arambh” in Italy. The Indian artists can now avail of an international platform and their diverse work helps to create awareness about Indian art breaking out of the traditional mold of folk art. Yet, bCA Galleries has not forgotten its duties towards India’s rich cultural heritage, we are actively promoting artist Jivya Soma Mashe who is the pioneer of Warli tribal art in India.

 At the same time, prominent Italian artists have had showings in India through the aegis of bCA Galleries. Artists Azelio Corni and Pino Ceriotti have had two shows in India, which have been very well received. The works of three promising Italian artists: Bruno di Lecce, Pino Oliva, and Silvia Serenari have also created a stir in the Mumbai art scene. Further, we have hosted a show of the ethereal Italian artist, Lucia Pescador also in Mumbai.   

In the near future, bCA plans to widen our field of focus of promoting Indian artists to include other European countries and China. We also intend to have a show featuring the works of contemporary promising Chinese talent in India. We seek to establish an ongoing relationship with the artists we promote and build a tradition of quality and trust around the globe.

Lattuada Studio

bCA Galleries is proud to be associated and partnering with Lattuada Studio, which is one of the premier galleries promoting contemporary art in Italy. Lattuada is essentially an offshoot of the illustrious Art Center which has played a pivotal role in the development of art in Europe and especially Italy. Its genesis was in the year 1963, where it served not merely as a point of purchase of art but as a medium promoting interdisciplinary exchange between intellectuals, artists and connoisseurs. Works of famed artists like Goya have been displayed here. There have been instances of collaborations between architects and designers, book and music have also found place in these hallowed walls which embraces art in its totality. Lucia Pescador is one of the modern day Italian artists who have enjoyed its patronage.

Artist’s Profile
Jivya Mashe was born in 1934. He has received no formal education. He spent the first 30 years of his life working as a farm labourer. In the early seventies the Indian government started a program intended to preserve tribal culture and traditions. As a result of that program in 1976 a group of women of the Warli tribe was invited to paint their traditional works at the exhibition on Indian tribal arts, held in Delhi, Jivya accompanied them.  During the period they were in Delhi, they were paid 20 rupees a day to paint. Soon enough the outstanding artistic skills of Jivya were noticed. His clean and secure stroke, his original and vivid forms and the brilliant, dynamic composition his works was recognised as being beyond mere decoration. That same year Jivya was awarded with the National Award for Tribal Art by the former prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi. It did not take long before Jivya's works were exhibited in Bombay, all over India and then abroad. Since then he has exhibited all over the world and travelled to Canada, Japan, Germany and England. His works are part of the collections of many important museums worldwide.

Exhibitions:
2004 - Dialoghi: Richard Long and Jivya S. Mashe - PAC Milano, Italy
2003 - Dialogue: Richard Long und Jivya S. Mashe - Museum Kunstpalast, Duesseldorf, Germany
1982 - Magicien de Terre - Paris, France
1976 - Exhibition of tribal art -Delhi, India
Other various solo and group shows in India and around the world.

Awards:
1976 - National Award