Calendar art in India
I am not saying I’m a great connoisseur of art. No, I wouldn’t know a Picasso from a Monet or a Hussain from a Tayeb Mehta. But I would like to believe I do have a strong aesthetic sense. So yes, for me, the flawless, impeccable, so-close-to-real, Hindu gods and goddesses painted in our run of the mill, available-everywhere wall calendars are on top of the list of genius art.
The colours are vibrant, the portraits so real and life like. An eye for detail and every intricate detail is impeccably perfect. Most of us couldn’t draw a perfect circle and look at these nameless, super talented unsung heroes of art.
No, I am not putting down The Greats. They are a genius lot. Far beyond my realm of understanding. I am only saying that aren’t these the people who should be applauded too? Whoever started the movement to recognize and uplift Indian handicraft, was in my opinion a visionary. May we can do the same for these calendar artists. As of now their art is available a dime a dozen on street sides. No doubt they are reprints. Countless reprints. But they do originate from somewhere and credit should be handed out to these amazingly talented artists.
They need to be given their due recognition in a highly successful commercial world their art has helped create. A kitschy world where their work adorns every surface from table mats to flower vases, cushion covers to coasters. So it’s high time we gave credit where it’s due. They should be drawn out from behind the scenes to take a bow. For the impossibly beautiful, visually stunning and mind-blowingly staggering Hindu art dotting every other calendar on every other corner of every other street never fails to awe.
