New exhibitions
UNBOUND BY REALISM
For centuries, wealthy rulers of the Islamic world commissioned books rich in beautiful paintings. Referred to as “miniatures” by scholars because of their size, these precious works of art reside today in prestigious museum and private collections. Though inspired by Ottoman miniatures of the 16th to 19th centuries, Turkish artist Ayse Keskin Uysal’s paintings are also in dialogue with contemporary aesthetics and meanings. Unfettered by Western ideas of realism, they present dream-like visions that weave together the traditional, the historical, the mythical, and the modern. Many of Ayse’s paintings can be found in museum collections.
OF GODS & TIGERS
Fourteen years ago at the tender age of 70, Judaiya Bai Baiga was “discovered” in a remote village in central India. But perhaps it’s more accurate to say that she discovered art then. A member of the Baiga tribe, one of India’s “first inhabitants,” her colorful and exuberant paintings reflect the culture and religious beliefs of her people. A devotee of the Hindu god Shiva, he is often the subject of her work, as is Baghesur Devi, the Tiger God worshipped by the Baigas. Though her work is exhibited internationally, she remains humble and aspires to constantly better her art. She has also inspired other village women to take up the brush.