59 minutes of India in Paris' cité Griset

A screening of "VÂYU" [Air], a 1994 movie by Velu Viswanadhan, closes today the exhibition 
dedicated to the Indian painter at the Pascaline Mulliez gallery. 
(The film will be presented by Pierre Eugène - film critic and PhD in Film Studies at 'Jules Verne University', 
Picardy).


Filmography:

2010 - MG Road to Dandi, Crosswinds production
2009 - What happens in heavens, Croswinds production
Retour aux éléments, Méroé Films / ARTE / Centre Pompidou 
Pushed, Chorégraphie Padmini Chettur, Crosswinds production 
2006 - Inhabit, Chorégraphie Preethi Atreya, Crosswinds production 
2005 - Paper Doll, Choreographie Padmini Chettur, Crosswinds production 
2004 - Solo, Chorégraphie : Padmini Chettur, Crosswinds production 
Tsunami at Cholamandal, Fishermens’ Village, Crosswinds production 
2003 - Raja Rani, Crosswinds production  
2002 - Ether / Aakaash, Production Viswanadhan / Centre Pompidou 
2001 - Des Mains de Calcutta, Crosswinds production   
1994 - Air / Vayu,  Production Le Jour et la Nuit / ARTE / Centre Pompidou 
1988 - Agni / Feu, Production Viswanadhan / Centre Pompidou 
1985 - Eau / Ganga, Production Viswanadhan / Centre Pompidou  
1976-1982 - Sable, Production Viswanadhan / Centre Pompidou

[All PPG's posts about Viswa].
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Viswanadhan featured at Pascaline Mulliez Gallery

The Pascaline Mulliez Gallery 
is pleased to present 
a selection of works 
by the artist 
Velu Viswanadhan. 

These works cover the period from 1990 
to 2004. 

Opening on April 25 - until June 29, 2013

[G@ttoGiallo]



Why and how were these works chosen?   

 I discovered Viswanadhan recently. The artist, however, has been around for quite some time, stopping in Paris in the 
1960s, where he was noticed and supported by a major Paris gallery. In 2012, at the Fernand Léger Gallery (Ivry-sur-
Seine), I saw his paintings for the first time, which left me both confused and astonished, a sign that his work was taking 
me along paths to places I had never before explored. Among the works shown, one in particular caught my attention, 
and it is from this work (dated 2001) that the selection being exhibited here today was constituted. This selection covers 
a pivotal period in the development of Viswanadhan’s art.

The background of the paintings of that period is white, while the pigments used come from India. Green, red, yellow 
ochre and blue mixed with casein are applied in wide, flat transparent or opaque strokes, organising the painting 
geometrically. Through layer after layer of brush strokes, a subtle play of colours slowly appears. Visually, the 
sensations are shimmering, almost earthy. Varying transparencies and opacities are irregularly woven into the painting, 
inventing endlessly new tonalities and giving off a rare brightness.

Viswanadhan stands over the stretched canvas when he works, a position that he had already adopted as a child, 
when he was tracing the signs of tantric rituals in the sand. Large brush strokes infuse the space of his painting with a 
rhythm, which the artist regularly brings to a halt at the centre of his work, or almost. This simple act suffices to introduce 
an irregular element into the geometric design created by the alternating application of colours. Slowly and regularly, the
strokes follow the same movement, straight and repetitive, while the body moves and revolves around the canvas 
placed on the floor or on a table in the artist’s studio.

The selection of works by Velu Viswanadhan proposed here aims to show the point where the achievements of Indian
culture come together with those of contemporary art; a point of precious equilibrium between uniqueness and 
contemporaneousness.

     Pascaline Mulliez

[Translation Beatrix de Koster, April 2013]
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And on Friday, April 26th 

[Trio Polycordes on Fb]

at 8:30 pm...

As part of the exhibition, a concert will be

given by the 'Trio Polycordes':

- Florentino Calvo, mandolin 

- Sandrine Chatron, harp 

- Jean-Marc Zvellenreuther, guitar

The trio will play some pieces of Félix

Ibarrondo in the occasion of his 70th 

anniversary, in the presence of the 

composer himself.

___

Meeting Viswanadan at Centre Pompidou...

With 'Back to the elements' (2009), Viswanadhan returns
to the scene of his previous shootings to confront himself
to contemporary India.


This is the sixth and final part of the cycle devoted to the 5 elements
which, according to the Vedic principles, constitute the universe:
- Sable / Earth (1976) - Eau / Ganga (1985) - Feu / Agni (1988)
- Air / Vayu (1994) - Ether / Aakash (2002).

A curiosity: my first invit to see 'The 5 elements" was in 2004...

* * *
I hope you didn't miss the Art Chennai festival,
mid-March. Viswanadhan's was there!

Spotlight on Viswanadhan in his Paris studio...

This week end, the Ivry workshops were open to visitors for the 2010 "Pleins Feux
sur Ivry" annual event.

The weather was beautiful today, so I could leave at home my yellow fur and enjoy
the sun in my walk from the subway station - across the parc des Cormailles...

and the passerelle Müller - to the workshops, and then reach Viswa's place, unnoticed,
among the crowd of visitors.


A workshop is first a space where the artist create, alone... but once a year its door
opens to the outside world.


People visiting Viswanadhan mostly are - or they become - friends.
The welcome is always very warm and there is no age limit...

... and when Viswa discusses painting with youngsters, this can be very animated...
I dare to say !


"Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"...

Velu Viswanadhan
... by yours faithful G@tto


Next visit: Nadine Tarbouriech studio.

Last Viswanadhan's "Retour aux Eléments"...

... to be featured at Centre Pompidou [salle ciné 2]
on June 29/2010 - 7:30 pm - [90'].

sand, water, fire, air, ether...

A Méroe Films/Centre Pompidou co-production, in association with Arte-France
La Lucarne, with the support of CNC and Procirep.
____

[Below, a few snaps taken on arte-tv].




‎In 1976, the painter Velu Viswanadhan began a cycle of films on the five elements: sand,
water, fire, air and ether - wich, according to Vedic principles, constitute the universe.
They are the starting point of a journey across mythical, historical and everyday's India.
Over thirty years later, this new film is a flashback and a rediscovery of the premises, and a
statement of what India is nowadays. Viswanadhan filmed each element in itself : the eddies
of the Ganges, the lightning storm, the wind in the paddy fields... but also how humans use
these elements : fishermen casting their nets, blacksmiths clapping iron, tea merchants boiling
water... The sounds of nature and life are the sole film's soundtrack : the sound of the waves
dying on the shore and the crackling of a fire do replace speech. The repetition of images and
their slow pace let viewers immerse themselves in nature, in a sense of eternity.
[Translated from a text by Aamil/arte-video]

* [Viswanadhan filmography]

Thanks to all Viswa's fans,
yours faithful G@tto.


[produzionidik]
Viswanadhan interviewed at the 51st 'FESTIVAL DEI POPOLI' 2011
Firenze, Italy.
_____

June 25/2010 : Cité de la Musique > Bollywood Flashback !

A new Viswanadhan's India movie...

What you can see below is a few images' preview by Nadine and Viswa
shootingt during their Nov. 08 - Feb. 09 trip to India, but they are flying back
to India tomorrow for another video/photo well-stocked hunting.

(Viswa filmography)
May/June 2010 updates for Viswa fans : [click>] "Retour aux Eléments"
will be aired on Arte-TV on May 23 at 11:30 pm and featured at Paris'
Centre Pompidou on June 29/2010, at 7:30 pm.


The Taj Mahal in the mist.


The Taj Mahal.


Bodh Gaya, state of Bihar - Pilgrims.


Bodh Gaya - Pilgrims at the temple.


Kappad - beach.


Machilipatnam, Krishna district - Baba.


1/ Cremations.


2/ Cremations.


3/ Cremations.


Varanasi or Benares. state of Uttar Pradesh.
On the Ganga river.


Varanasi - Bathing in the Ganga river.


Hanuman... ran aground on the beach...
He doesn't look to be able yet to lead an army of monkeys or wathever
else to fight the demon King Ravana.__________________________________________________
©2008/09 Nadine Tarbouriech & Velu Vishwanadhan.
____________________________________________

*** More PPG's posts on VISWANADHAN ***
_______________________________________

Do not forget : 

- the Ivry-sur-Seine Ateliers 2009 will open their doors to visitors in September 
as they did last year and there will be plenty of new things to see...


1. G@tto's 2008 photo
2. from the Mairie d'Ivry site, June 2009.

- the Müller footbridge (passerelle), recently restored, and reopened this year, 
on June 12.


The Müller footbridge connects Ivry's center to Ivry's harbour, spanning
the underlying railways from rue Jules Vanzuppe, just in front of Nadine's
studio and two steps away from Viswa's.

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