Realistic and Thoughtful- Bharti Pitre 'The eye of an observer'

About the Artist & the Medium (Papier Mâché)

Bharati Pitre, a mixed media artist who currently works in paper pulp, studied at Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai and specialised in illustration. Then, after a brief stint in teaching illustration at her alma mater, she had an urge to experiment with found objects. She displayed her experiments using Kala Ghoda as her platform, where she found an overwhelming response every time. It was during this time that she happened to meet her teacher, a visual merchandiser and freelance artist, Shri Sharad Kumar (the grandson of artist Smt. Chandrakala Devi from Bihar, who was the first rural artist to receive a National Award from the President of India in 1984).

Shri Sharad Kumar opened Bharati's eyes to the traditional technique of papier mâché over 15 years ago and she fell in love with the robust and spontaneous material immediately, experimenting with it ever since. Originally used by artisans from different parts of India, the paper fuses together with the help of natural binders sourced from what is indigenously available in its surroundings. Bharati has made it a point not to move away from these traditional methods. She wanted to take it to a level where an urban contemporary artist could choose to work with it as a serious option to build and sculpt with.

What makes this material particularly challenging is that it is truly its own master. It takes its own time, has its own evolution, before becoming what the sculptor wishes it to be, giving the art form an unpredictable and exciting dynamic.

Workshops & Exhibitions

Bharati has been actively participating in various group shows where she has been able to carve a niche for herself, creating a lot of curiosity which has led to her conducting many workshops in various cities across India. Her work has been selected for many juried shows like the Art Society of India, the Bombay Art society, India Art Festival, etc. She is also a visiting faculty at DeCAD (Devrukh College of Art and Design) where she inspires many to follow in her footsteps. She has also had an opportunity to teach at ASEEMA, an NGO for street children.

Bharati’s work, which ranges from purely serious art to experimental and commissioned work, is part of various private collections in India and abroad. A lot of her work has been taken for an upcoming private Museum. The public art which she created for the first biennale held in Pune, is now installed at Lakshmibai Pitre Kalasangrahalaya, a museum in Devrukh, Ratnagiri district.

This being her second solo show at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (her first was in 2013), her work is also currently on display as one of the official collaterals at the prestigious Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016-17 (20 Dec 2016 - 30 Mar 2017).

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an initiative of the Kochi-Biennale Foundation with support from the Government of Kerala. The exhibition is set in spaces across Kochi, Muziris and surrounding islands. The exhibits are displayed in existing galleries and halls, and site-specific installations in public spaces, heritage buildings, and structures not in use.

Titled, "The Forgotten Wings", Bharati's piece is a testament to one's inner struggle to find the strength to rely on oneself. Evoking visceral and relatable ideas, her style is indicative of her ability to tap into her innermost thoughts and feelings and express them through her work.


'Look Once. Look Twice’,

 Bharati Pitre's next solo show pays a tribute to everyday life that stands out for its ordinariness and cajoles her into metamorphosing it into extra-ordinariness. When you look once, things sometimes appear ordinary, regular, and unremarkable. But if you look again, and look closer, you begin to see that everything is so incredibly interesting and has its own unique story that brought it to that point, the point that we are now witnessing. Bharati is intrigued by people; their expressions and their body language; her images therefore are bound to evoke memories blended with stories.

This exhibition deals with the wonderful life that we see around us, the beauty of which we sometimes choose to ignore. From the charming and quaint style of life shared by those inhabiting chawls in Mumbai, to intimate moments exchanged between a father and son, Bharati has captured several scenes that have made a permanent home in her thoughts.

With no noticeably consistent colour palette, it is evident that Bharati has given herself complete freedom in rendering her works. While the forms and colors are bold, the emotion exuding from her work is subtle, making for a true visual delight. Human and animal forms have always caught her attention. Her over-the-top large body masses and bright colours leave an indelible mark on people’s minds, as a result of which, her exaggerated figures are now her signature style. The bulges take nothing away from the graceful air of these figures, reminding us that our preconditioned notions of beauty could use some reëxamination.

This being her second solo show at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (her first was in 2013), her work is also currently on display as one of the official collateral's at the prestigious Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016-17 (20 Dec 2016 - 30 Mar 2017). The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an initiative of the Kochi-Biennale Foundation with support from the Government of Kerala. Titled, "The Forgotten Wings", Bharati's piece is a testament to one's inner struggle to find the strength to rely on oneself. Evoking visceral and relatable ideas, her style is indicative of her ability to tap into her innermost thoughts and feelings and express them through her work

Art Review

Realistic and thoughtful!

Bharti Pitre has finely put down the current events and the daily chores of our life ina very subtle manner.

Reading between the lines, the artist has managed to sculpt it all and bring it under one roof.Being it a filmmaker of cinema to a simple housewife drying clothes in an extra ordinary way. Getting us to know more about our daily life, we tend to forget these small things that is a part and parcel of our life, while Bharti has confronted us with our actual lifestyle.


In a fast paced running life, her observation is one to salute.

Raphael- Painting the historic style

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) (1483 – April 6, 1520), was a great Italian painter. Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael makes up the great trinity of the High Renaissance period. He was noted for his clarity of form and ability to convey grandeur, beauty and perfection.

He got the audiance in view of the historic sense of life.

As well as being a great painter, Raphael was also a noted teacher, who could inspire his fellow pupils to greater standards. He had one of the largest art schools in Rome, with over 50 pupils. His enthusiasm and talent helped his school become a famous place of art.

As well as a painter, Raphael was also a noted architect, drawer, and with Raimondi a printmaker of his engravings.

Frieda Kahlo- Who brought landscape to life

Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907 - July 13, 1954) was a Mexican painter, who has achieved great international popularity.

The lady was known for her origin of artistic form of Landscape creations.

She painted using vibrant colors in a style that was influenced by indigenous cultures of Mexico as well as by European influences that include Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Many of her works are self-portraits that symbolically express her own pain and sexuality.

In 1929 Kahlo married the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. They shared political views, and he encouraged her artistic endeavors. Although she has long been recognized as an important painter, public awareness of her work has become more widespread since the 1970s.

Her "Blue" house in Coyoacan, Mexico City is a museum, donated by Diego Rivera upon his death in 1957. (From Wikipedia)

Artist Aditi Agarwal- The amalgamation of intelligence and creativity

From being a Doctor to an  Artist, Aditi Agarwal’s journey is truly versatile. 

With the amalgamation of intelligence and creativity, she also brings along with her a sense of humanity.

Artist Aditi Agarwal, is a self- taught artist and went on to teaching those who never would think of doing so. Penning down the thoughts of the underprivilidged through their art, Aditi has her art pieces displayed all over in Canada, Dubai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata and many more.

The lady who painted the town red with her journey.

Her feather paintings are a true master-piece.

Uma Makala- Woman in liberation through her art

Uma makala is a self taught artist from Hyderabad with a degree in commerce. She has spent most of her life in Lagos, Nigeria.

The lady who brought the feminine side of art to life with her expression, painting the town justifying its beautification and gracefulness towards the society. She recently participated in an event at The Westin Hotel, Hyderabad.

Started her work, portraying woman in liberation. Despite having wide exposure to different cultures and people, she loves doing her art works in mythological subjects like “Love of Radha-krishna”.

Serenity of nature has drawn her into landscapes and buddha paintings. She loves working with all the mediums and styles instead of sticking to one. Participated in many group shows in Hyderabad, Vizag , Pune and other places. Many of her paintings are in a private collection in India and Abroad.

French-Bengali artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar's third edition ‘Kochi-Muziris Biennale’

 Internationally acclaimed French-Bengali artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar who faced “challenges” trying to complete his art work on time due to demonetisation has hailed the generosity and collaborative aspect of the art scene in India.

Mazumdar, who has his creation displayed at the third edition of ‘Kochi-Muziris Biennale’, expressed his gratitude for the help he received to finish his art work in the midst of the note ban.

“The first few days of demonetisation were really hard across the country and everyone struggled to adjust. With regards to building this installation for Kochi, we faced some challenges trying to complete the piece on time,” Mazumdar said.

“The workers stopped coming as they were not willing to accept cheques, the cash-flow was completely choked and it was impossible to get to a bank,” he said.

“However, thanks to the great support from friends and patrons we were able to borrow the cash as we needed larger volumes than was permitted to withdraw from the banks or ATMs,” Mazumdar told.

He was grateful for the amazing support as the “installation was completed and packed in time to be transported to Kochi”.

Mazumdar, who considers himself an “expressionist painter”, said his installation would depict the elemental force of water as it appears in the human psyche and the surrounding environment.

The silver lining, according to Mazumdar, was the “generosity and collaborative nature of the art scene in India, as we see people come together despite the challenges”.

(Inputs from IANS)

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see - Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas (19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917), born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (pronounced [ilɛʀ ʒɛʁmɛ̃ ɛdɡɑʀ dœˈɡɑ]), was a French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing.

He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. A superb draughtsman, he is especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half his works depict dancers. These display his mastery in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are considered to be among the finest in the history of art.

Early in his career, his ambition was to be a history painter, a calling for which he was well prepared by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art. In his early thirties he changed course, and by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern life.

(Inputs from Edgar-degas.org)