Among the acclaimed artistes who have gathered for the 12-day printmaking camp at Kismatpur is Jyotindra Manshankar Bhatt, famous for his printmaking, photographic documentation and modernist paintings.
Jyoti Bhatt’s works have garnered world-wide appreciation and have found place in prestigious collections like the Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Smithsonian, Washington DC and The British Museum, London.
Jyoti Bhatt took the profession of an artist and a printmaker in the 50s, “I studied painting and printmaking at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda. And then, over the course of time, learnt different techniques.” Apart from being an artist, Jyoti is also known for his photographic documentation of rangoli tradition in Gujarat and Maharashtra “Photography is an objective medium through which I could present my ideas to the people,” says Jyoti.
“These camps are more like family functions. You meet up with old friends that you otherwise might not get the opportunity to meet,” says Bhatt. Currently staying in Baroda, the artist is attending the camp in Hyderabad for the first time.
“We are senior artists just in name. The younger artists are equally talented. In fact, it has been a learning experience for me as many have come up with new ideas. What we have given them is direction that comes with experience.”
Though he has achieved world-wide acclaim for his work, Bhatt insists that printmaking is still not widely accepted, often by fellow artists. “In the world of art, it’s all about exclusivity. But printmaking is a medium where reproductions can be made of the same work, which many don’t find appealing. In printmaking, art becomes affordable for the common man. So if one print costs Rs 1 lakh, the same print when reproduced 10 times will perhaps cost Rs 10,000,” he says.
When asked what he’ll take back from the camp, Jyoti replies, “The feeling of respect that I have received from the younger artistes will stay with me even after I leave this place.”
