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Nikhileswar Baruah
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Born in Assam in 1967, Nikhileswar Baruah remembers his childhood days in Guwhati quite clearly. The picturesque state, now ripped apart by violence, in fact finds its way in his works quite often.
He comes from a family with a background in theatre. "But I liked painting right since childhood," he recalls. "And no one in my family tried to divert my attention to any other art form. I knew I would be a painter."
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Born in Assam in 1967, Nikhileswar Baruah remembers his childhood days in Guwhati quite clearly. The picturesque state, now ripped apart by violence, in fact finds its way in his works quite often.
He comes from a family with a background in theatre. "But I liked painting right since childhood," he recalls. "And no one in my family tried to divert my attention to any other art form. I knew I would be a painter."
After completely his 12th standard, Baruah joined the M.S. University Baroda to do his Bachelors and then Masters in fine arts. In 1992, he took up a job as a lecturer in the University`s painting department, which he quit only recently.
Baruah mostly works with watercolors on paper, a medium he says, "which is very flexible and allows you to experiment." His works reflect the agony and trauma of every sensible, secular Indian who is appalled by the violence and strife that`s torn India apart.
Hailing from Assam, the artist himself has seen the effect of this violence and strife. "I have lived through it in my younger days," he simply states, "so I know the effect it has on people." His works over the last few years have all concentrated on modern man`s apathy to the growing violence.
The repetition of events and history is a recurring theme in Baruah`s works. Last year, disturbed by the plunging India Pakistan relationship and the specter of an insecure subcontinent facing the threat of a nuclear war, the artist painted around this theme.
Baruah held his first exhibition in Mumbai in 1995. In 1997, he followed it up with a solo show at Prithvi and then in, 2001 at Lakeeren. Besides that, he has shown extensively in group shows at Baroda.
He was honored with the Artist of the Year award at the Harmony show in 2000, besides which he won the Unesco scholarship to for the European Ceramic Work Centre, Netherlands.
Nikhileshwar Baruah lives and works out of Baroda.
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Born
1967
Assam
Education
1992 Master of Fine Arts (Painting), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1990 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2009 'SimpleCity', Jehangir Art...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2009 'SimpleCity', Jehangir Art Gallery; Hacienda Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 'City-zens', R L Fine Arts, New York
2006 'Departure', Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai
2000 Lakeeren, The Contemporary Art Gallery, Mumbai
1999 The Guild, Mumbai
1997 Prithvi Gallery, Mumbai
1990 State Art Gallery, Guwahati
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 'Agape', Hacienda Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'Black is Beautiful', India Fine Art, Mumbai
2009 'Vicissitudes of the Constructed Image', Tangerine Art Space, Bangalore
2009 'Cutting Chai', Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara
2008 'Freshly Squeezed: The Young Indian Contemporaries', Suchitrra Arts, Mumbai
2008 Three-man group show with T M Azis and Rajesh Salgaonkar at Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai
2008 'Our Namastey, Their Namastey', Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, presented by Rennisa, Vadodara
2008 Organized by 'Gauhati Artists' Guild' at Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
2007 'Embodied', Gallery Art & Soul, Mumbai
2007 ‘Pulsating Rhythms on Paper’, Tangerine Art Space, Bangalore
2007 ‘Come September’, Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Medley of Hues’, ABS Gallery, Vadodara
2007 'Melodious Hues', Red Earth Gallery, Vadodara
2007 ‘Points of Reference’, Art & Soul Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Instilling Life’, Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Beyond Credos: Painting in Baroda Today’, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
2007 ‘Evam’, Online show
2007 'Young Guns', Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai
2007 'Whispering Palette', Red Earth Gallery, Vadodara
2007 'Mirrors of Time', presented by Setu – an Artists’ initiative at Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai
2006 'Drawing Show an Act of Art II', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Concern India Charity Auction by Christie’s, Bangalore
2006 ‘Undo Objects’, Chitra Kala Parisath, Bangalore
2006 ‘Evam – Painting New Theatre’, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 Auction in aid of Mumbai Police Welfare Fund, curated by Arts Trust, Mumbai
2005 ‘Are We Like This Only ?’, Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi
2005 ‘Detour’, Gallery 88, Mumbai
2005 ‘Tribute to Bhupen Khakhar’, Gallery Artists’ Guild, Guwahati
2005 Chitrakoot Gallery, Kolkata
2004 Garden of Roses, Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara
2004 ‘Transgress’, Priyasri Gallery, Mumbai
2004 ‘Alekhya’, Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara
2003 ‘Across The Threshold’, Artcore Gallery at San Francisco, U.S.A
2003 ‘Cross Currents’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2003 ‘Art for God's Sake’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002 The Cupid Connection, Art Core, Vadodara
2002 The Banyan City, Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara
2002 ‘Modern Indian Paintings’, Online Auction at Saffronart.com
2002 ‘Voices Against Violence’, Fine Arts Gallery, Vadodara
2002 ‘The Banyan City’, Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara
2002 ‘Cupid Connection’, Artcore, Vadodara
2001 ‘Seamless’, Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara
2000 Indian Contemporary Art, Saffronart online auction
2000 ‘Juxatapose', Son-et-Lumiere, Mumbai
2000 ‘The Secret Life of Objects’, Lakeeren
1998 First Anniversary Show of Earthsong Gallery, Guwahti
1990 'Friendship - 90', Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
Joint Exhibitions
2002 Rui House and Artists Centre, Mumbai
1995 Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and Artist's Centre Mumbai
Participations
2006 Feb Show, Lanxess ABS Gallery, Vadodara
2005 Participated in Open Circle project for Yokohama International Triennale of Contemporary Art, Japan
2005 10th Harmony Show, World Trade Centre, Mumbai
2004 Harmony 2004, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2003 Harmony 2003, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2001 Harmony 2001, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2000 Harmony 2000, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2000 ‘The Secret life of Objects’ presented by Lakeeren Gallery at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
2000 Art Gallery at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
1991 63rd All India Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
Honours and Awards
2000 Emerging Artist of the year Award, 'Harmony 2000'
1997 Unesco - Aschberg Bursaries to work at the European Ceramic Work Centre, The Netherlands.
1991 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), Scholarship
1986 - 1992 Assam Government Scholarship
2000 Emerging Artist of the year Award, 'Harmony 2000'
1997 Unesco - Aschberg Bursaries to work at the European Ceramic Work Centre, The Netherlands.
1991 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), Scholarship
1986 - 1992 Assam Government Scholarship
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Nikhileswar Baruah is a painter tied to the immediate though the past
continues to intercede in context to the present. Each of Baruah's works is
a narrative, a window to the mind concerned and often torn apart between
the outer and inner reality of the social system that plagues not only our
own country but each part of the world.
"When one looks at what is happening in our society now, the violence,...
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Read More
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Nikhileswar Baruah is a painter tied to the immediate though the past
continues to intercede in context to the present. Each of Baruah's works is
a narrative, a window to the mind concerned and often torn apart between
the outer and inner reality of the social system that plagues not only our
own country but each part of the world.
"When one looks at what is happening in our society now, the violence, is
always present. It comes in different proportions, sometimes the intensity
is low and sometimes high. This violence has become a constant social event
which tends to remain in ones mind."
In a very muted silence each image screams at the viewer. The human figure
remains the protagonist through out. As a victim and a viewer of the
violence. The language remains the same though the details may change. The
core of the subject of Baruah's concentrated patronage continues to remain
pretty much the same over the years. The ferocity resulting due to
political and social structure is a fact that continued to be with him
throughout his youth and formative years.
"Though I plan out the composition and do have the image in mind there is a
working process and the type of treatment which does lead to changes to a
certain extent"
Each one of Baruah's works is the result of a predetermined concept
visualized in its contextual form within its spatial relations and then
transferred from the artists mind to the paint surface.
"Concentrating on watercolours on paper came after the unintentional trial
of the media for the sake of convinience..the medium was easy to use and did
not require large spaces. I enjoyed the fluidity of the medium and the
possibility of layering it offered due to its transparent nature. After
working in this media for a period of 6-7 years I have now gone back to
working with acrylics on canvas for technical reasons( framing,
transportation etc.) and am trying to achieve the same effect of
watercolours by using acrylics and watercolours together"
"Elements having a source of their own slowly grow to becomes a personal
and specific symbols."
Recurring in a repetitive form in his works, the matchstick, the gun, the
knife are symbols that assume iconic significance in Baruah's works. Also
the juxtapositioning of non related elements (in a collage form consisting
of xeroxs or magazine cuttings) mediates the depicted violence in some
works.
"Images sourced from magazines, newspapers and advertisements find their way
into my work. Repetitive imagery often creates a pattern juggled by the
protagonist. The use of contrasting colours reds and oranges with blues
add to the feeling of isolation of the image and help to retain the
significance of the theme."
It is through his works, that Baruah manipulates and tries to create a
mental balance in this cycle of social and political upheavals. In a very
muted silence each of his images scream , beckoning one to readdress the
neccessity of the manner in which we have embraced this alternate means of
survival.
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PAST AUCTIONS
Showing
3
of
3
works
Lot 79
Details
StoryLTD Absolute Auction
12-13 November 2013
Good Evening
Acrylic on canvas
72.5 x 52 in
Winning bid
$1,020
Rs 61,200
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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Lot 221
Details
Auction 2002 (May)
13-16 May 2002
Devotion to Rhythm
Watercolour on paper
25.5 x 25.5 in
Winning bid
$375
Rs 18,000
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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PAST StoryLTD AUCTIONS
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EXHIBITIONS
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