Overview

"Homo Articus, ""human as artist,"" is a concept that embraces the arts as integral to human nature and encapsulates the universal idea of art as 'creative contemplation.' The contemplative artwork by Kajal Dass Beck in this book reveals an ""invisible thread"" across cultural boundaries and creatively expresses the universal human need to discover and communicate the soul of reality. Building upon previous work with traditional designs and patterns of India, the paintings in this book engage both Eastern and Western motifs in pioneering ways. As Dass Beck says: ""Aligning form with substance, soft with bold colors, natural with supernatural dimensions, and geometric with freeform design, these works cross boundaries of established genres and artistic orthodoxy yet challenge the perspectives of the most venturesome afficionado."" Separate or combined, her motifs appear and reappear in various configurations of abstract expression that provoke an interior vision of beauty and aesthetic delight. In the spirit of creative contemplation, Homo Articus: Contemplative Art invites viewers to contemplate iconic shapes and vibrant color combinations in a diversity of formations. The work is divided into two parts, the first representing non-Indian content including American, local (New Orleans), African, abstract, and other forms of modern expression. The second part focuses on the religious and cultural landscapes of India, drawing from religious traditions, village life, legends, folklore, and music. In addition to the beautiful collection of paintings, this book contains an explanatory introduction and a short autobiography by the artist."

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9781952232855

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Reviews

"""Your work, Kajal, is so fine, filled with pure color, clear emotion, and your graceful dancing heart."" --------Dr. Sydney Sparling, British Columbia ""Beautiful work. I especially like the integration of traditional Indian (Hindu) icons, i.e., OM, with contemporary style of painting."" --------Dr. Anuradha Murali, Medical University of South Carolina ""Your use of watercolors is more than inspiring. Your work speaks about your soul and that is a truly beautiful place. I feel transcended when I look at these images. The wide variety of media and styles show the signs of a well-developed artist as well as a clear sense of expression. I was wonderstruck."" --------Artist Debra Federico, Parker Institute, New Orleans ""Kajal Beck's paintings captivate with their breathtaking beauty. Whether it's an intricate alpana or a scenic depiction of a bustling African village market, each piece is meticulously detailed, with vibrant hues, leaving one awe inspired. You possess a gift of boundless imagination and creativity, and I feel fortunate to have discovered your remarkable artworks."" --------Joyoni Dey, PhD, professor at Louisiana State University ""Kajal Beck is an accomplished artist. The exhibition of watercolor paintings showed her mastery of a variety of styles ranging from realistic to surrealistic and abstract."" --------Arvind Parikh, Times-Picayune, New Orleans"

Author Information

Kajal Dass Beck, originally from West Bengal, studied art at the Government Art College inKolkata, and directed the Surañjana School of Art and Craft. While traditional Indian designs isthe subject of her first book, NAVA ALPANA: NEW DECORATIVE DESIGNS OF INDIA (2016), she hassince widened her artistic perspective to encompass universal forms of contemplative expressionduring her residence in America. Following a landmark exhibition at the Academy of Fine Artsin Kolkata (1976), she has exhibited her batik and watercolor paintings at galleries in the UnitedStates and Canada, including Loyola University, World Trade Center in New Orleans, Universityof Victoria, British Columbia, LSU Union Gallery, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Guy L. Beck teaches Asian Religions and World Religions at Tulane University. He holds a Ph.D. in Religion, South Asia and an M.A. in Musicology from Syracuse University. He has been a US Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Fellow and an AIIS (American Institute of Indian Studies) Performing Arts Fellow. A Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

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