Sketch studies

Posted on March 22, 2009 by prashant bhatt

Works of art by the sister of Nirmal Bhabhiji which she showed me on a peaceful quiet evening at Lodhi Colony, Delhi –October 2011- discussing the influences of Company School on Indian Art
http://ngmaindia.gov.in/sh-company-period.asp

Doing a sketch study is a nice way to spend a few hours, seeping in the energies and vibrations of landscapes, buildings, works of art.

 

Some of my sketches hang in the houses of my friends. Hyde Park London in the winter morning. Lodhi gardens Delhi in the early evening, sketching the palms bordering the Eastern boundaries of the tomb of Muhamed Shah (1444). The columns of Nephretiti, talking to you in Karnak-Southern Egypt.

 

Last November, I gave most of my sketches to my sons, to keep and study at leisure.

How the shadings and smudging move you and carry you through different planes.

 

Yesterday night, I made a sketch study of “The Mocking of Christ”..and remembered Mattia Preti-who some scholars say was the last of the great Caravaggisti.

 

To quote a commentary on the works of Preti

 

“The various moments of Christ’s Holy passion inspired Preti with many paintings. In this particular one he reaches a rare degree of poignancy and spirituality.

Christ crowned with thorns and wearing the purple mantle is seated on the left, in front of him are two figures, one wearing a helmet, the other, cap in hand, salutes ironically and is offering him the cane. The balance of qualities described in the picture, combined with the spacing and the soft cool tones and the straightforward completeness point out to a powerful personality and a consummate master in Preti”

 

As a radiologist, one of my teachers used to tell me.. “The present generation of radiologists are seeing anatomy like no other previous generations has seen”

We used to be proud of being the first humans to see imaging by CT, MRI, and try to understand the different processes going on.

 

Now, after over a decade down the line, I am not so sure..For when I came across the works and philosophy of the Caravaggisti, the precision and depth of their perceptions, I thought.. “We have a long long way to go..before making empty claims”.

 

Do some sketch studies and you will know.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bread Pakoras and Shormas

Posted on March 19, 2009 by prashant bhatt

shorma2

Living life through the vector of food.

 

When I was a hosteler in Medical college, I used to go to Daryaganj –Old Delhi to

eat Bread Pakoras.

 

Lunch would often be feeding Channa-Kulchas to Squirrels at Firoz Shah Kotla.

 

The scents, vibrations of those street side snacks, the hot Bread Pakoras coming out and the potato-curry with which we used to relish these, in small containers made of Leaves all stay with me.

 

Now, staying in Tripoli, I have found another lovely street snack-The Shorma.

Again, the vibration of the market, the lovely way in which they make the snack, right in front of you, and roll in a nice bread and serve it hot, and the oneness and vibrations

One feels all go into making it a unique experience.

 

Bread Pakoras at Daryaganj-Delhi…Shormas at Shara Omar Mokhtaar-Tripoli

 

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Never seen you around

Posted on March 18, 2009 by prashant bhatt

Met a Libya veteran who has been here since the eighties. Originally from Rajasthan, he joined the University, then set up his own company, got his sons educated in Japan.

 

“How many years have you been here” he asked me.

 

“This is my sixth year in Tripoli” I told him.

 

“I have never seen you around,” he told me.

 

“You probably never required an X-ray or a MRI” I answered, tongue in cheek.

 

Though he is a kind man, I have met many persons who come when they require and then give a clichéd remark… ‘Doctor..If there is anything you need, anytime..just call me..’ and then go away. I never call them.

 

One of my friends who did try to call some so-called “VIPs” told me that they never reciprocated. Good that I never tried these channels.

 

Shape through working life

 

How does the working life shape one’s directions? Work has been the key to democratization, and opened avenues and contacts which would never have been through the other social contexts where I operated.

 

As persons who stay alone, we have formed a small but self-sufficient group and enriched life through food, art, literature, music, exercise, work..

 

A dinner

 

A few days later, this veteran personally came to pick me up from my department. It was a cold rainy windy night, but he kept his promise of personally coming to pick me up for dinner in his house. There was no way to escape.

 

Many years ago, when I first started staying alone, I had resolved to not go to occasions and outings where I would have to accept something-some hospitality or anything from someone, anyone that I could not return in exact measure.

 

And hence I usually do not go for any dinners or outings which fall in the framework of this ‘cannot-reciprocate-in-equal-measure’ guideline.

 

Life has been much more peaceful due to this.

 

And I have been opened to vistas which would never have come my way otherwise.

 

Going for long walks, having ‘Shorma’ at Shara Mokhtaar..or organizing Food workshops..

 

 

barbecue2

 

Preparing Barbecue in a Libyan Farm

 

 

The great Russian writer Anton Chekov who wrote.. ‘that every man had his real, most interesting life under … more and more attached to him..’

 

No wonder, though I have been here for over five years..some people still ask..

Never seen you around

 

 

 

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