Life’s journey with art

When Avani Rao Gandra started ICONART (Indian Contemporary Art) Gallery 10 years ago, the market for art was on a downslide. She says, “In 2009 we had seven art galleries in Hyderabad and out of them four had shut down. This was the not only in Hyderabad but all over India and globally too almost 40 per cent of art galleries shut in the economic meltdown. In this context I was discouraged to initiate a new art gallery.

But my intentions were clear; From my experience as a research scholar and an art critic and interactions with the art community made it clear that there was a need for an exhibition space for young art professionals irrespective of commercial gains. On the personal front, I had more space and time to concentrate on making ICONART a meaningful and energetic space, so I did not consider market trends and started the gallery.”

The gallery is 650 sq ft in area and centrally located. She says, “I was fortunate to have the family owned space, so it has become more viable to sustain back to back exhibitions and activity in form of workshops and in learning, sharing art practices. If you treat it as a commercial project nothing could have worked, only the passion keeps it running as a vibrant space. We innovated the process where not much money is involved both for the gallery as well as the artists.

Sometimes, art works are not framed, and I am not fastidious about it; what matters is the artists expression. The artist enjoys a certain liberty in execution and display. Especially installations and contemporary art practices that have low sales are most encouraged; we had shows, where artist used walls in the galley to execute drawings and installations.

As long as gallery was returned in as is condition, I was liberal on many fronts. My experience as an art writer, curator and practicing artist is a huge catalyst in maintaining the tempo over the last 10 years. The 50-years-old artist is inspired by her mother who was adept at detailed painting, fine embroidery and an avid gardener.

She says, “In those days if you want to do an art course you have to join after X th standard, but I realised my call after intermediate, and it was considered too late to join fine arts from mounting pressure of matrimony. I got married during my graduation. I tried to choose liberal arts in my academic courses, for my MA. M.Phil and P.hD. I completed my PhD 16 years ago.

Looking back, I think this was a blessing in disguise as it motivated me to self-explore all angles of art. In the sense there were no boundaries of a fixed pedagogue and institutional stamping on my learning. The influx of internet was definitely a facilitator in putting the dots together, the history, theory and practices - global as well as regional fine art.”

Avani Rao Gandra is a self-taught artist, she says, “I feel I never had such boundaries to work on. I don’t think any college experience can match the exposure I got from meeting and working with artists, which was infinitely richer and wider.” Till now Avani has curated over 70 art shows on painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, new media, video, installation, conceptual and performance art.

She worked as an art critic and contributed articles to magazines. As an artist and photographer, she has participated in solo and group shows and has been a recipient of Arts Think South Asia fellowship sponsored by German Goethe Centre and British Council (2014 -2015). “I did PhD (on Contemporary Andhra Painting) from Osmania University. And I was writing about art in magazines.

I used to meet senior and upcoming artists. There was clear understanding that there was a lot of young talent who did not have the place to exhibit their talent and that was the core area I wanted to concentrate as a gallery, to create a platform for young professional artists. Artist is one level ahead in their creative explorations and world views through art. It’s a challenge to bridge the gap between public perceptions of art and constantly growing trends in art practices.

I tried best to fill the gaps by taking art shows into public spaces and conducting workshops open to free flow of knowledge in art.”Since a few years now, Avani began curating art shows in public spaces addressing all aspects of the Hyderabad social issues. “I curated exhibitions right on the main lanes of Lad Bazar, Charminar area.

Huge blowouts of photographs were displayed right on the shop fronts. Another show on women issues had installations in places were women hesitate to move freely on their own, places like Irani cafes and motor garages were used to display art installations. I was hoping to bring in not only art awareness but sensitivity to the content.”

Another landmark for ICONART Gallery was a two-year day-time art residency where 20 young artists from all over India practiced and conducted workshops in 5000 Sq ft area. Another attempt was to make art affordable so more art can be displayed in residences, offices and other institutes. “We started an annual program called ‘Buy Art’, were quality art works are made available for reasonable prices.”

She adds, “Contemporary, modern art needs a certain inquiry and understating, it does not sink into the sensibility of the larger public that easily. The galleries in India have the additional responsibility to fills these gaps, so the morale of artists and value of art as a sustained cultural product is valued by generations to come. For these sustained efforts from public, government and corporate support are necessary." When questioned about her challenges as a woman in the art field, she shares, “In fact, I feel that a woman has better sensibility in bridging the gaps of the multidimensional cultural, social sphere of Indian ethos.

They are more sensitive and adept to the ever-changing flux of things around. I am more partial to the women artists, I understand the tough contexts in which an woman artist practices, juggling multiple roles as wife, mother etc. Most of the shows have been curated for them - ‘Born a girl ‘, ‘Nirbaya’, the woman’s art walk, they all have strong feminist angles to bring sensitivity towards women issues. It was a tremendous journey of exploration and understanding, which added tremendous value to my personality and life.” ICONART gallery has so far given a platform to 80 young artists from all over India, to exhibit their first solo shows.

“It’s fulfilling to see them at various national and International Art expos. Its known that an artist has to come to ICONART with a body of quality art and exhibition dates are given with the least hassle, and irrespective of the commercial value and saleability of the art works they are encouraged to express their true potential,” she states.