Fashionably 'Indo-Western' Art and culture

Last month, the Aronoff Center's Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/aronoff was host to ArtNet, an annual artist reception featuring a palette of diverse art mediums, diverse cultures, lots of art lovers and patrons, and great fun! Today's blog,  spotlights one group of artists from this successful event: Indo-Western art and culture.  

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul http://ourspiritandsoul.com/

 The term 'Indo-Western' typically refers to the fusion of Western and South Asian fashion, but you can find many of its artistic traditions adorned across various art mediums. Traditional Indian Art is known for an affinity for vibrant color, which is prevalent and generously used in the most artistic manner. As a lover of color myself, it was easy for me to land my eyes on the gold-painted shot glass set and the red embroidered fabric table runner. Of course, I wasn't the only one. Red and burnt orange are traditional colors that represent life and tranquility and are seen in various forms across Indian culture. Another lady and myself fell in love with the shot glasses which were so delicate, yet usable for a typical American Friday night out. 

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul

 The artist, Shilpa Desai, an Indo-Western artist, has a beautiful eye for elegance and details as her gold-painted glasses and table runner tie together contemporary western taste with traditional Indian art. A marriage of sorts: the shot glasses and champagne flutes, recognizable American mainstays, are hand painted with golden paint. The designs are reminiscent of the henna paste tattoo designs that are applied to beautify women's hands and feet in traditional, celebratory Indian festivals and weddings. Desai's designs are both traditional and contemporary with it's intricate, delicate and feminine feel.  Pretty glasses for pretty drinks and pretty ladies! Very American! A beautiful marriage of contemporary American and traditional Indian culture. Shilpa creates other Indo-Western designs on embroidery and beadwork.

Ladies admiring art cards from Our spirit and soul, http://ourspiritandsoul.com/ photography by Karen M Jenkins

 Indo-Western dress is a big hit particularly among the younger generation and from my naive, but stylish Indie eye!  'Indo-Western' refers to the culture of fashion.  Traditional tunic and Saris still grace much of the women's fashion, and kurta and dupatta suits for the men. But there is an emerging western contemporary look that features sleeveless tops, pants with slits, and skirt lengths that are shorter than what has been traditionally worn. I had to take a picture of this beautiful group of ladies as they represent both worlds: 'Indo-Western.' The Indo-Western tunic combines a contemporary tie-die look with the popular spring colors of chocolate and pink. The v-neck tunic is blinged around the neck's edges. Tradition can also be seen among this group of ladies with the wearing of the Sari with traditional burnt orange color, adorned with the wearing of flowers in her hair. Women wearing flowers are very important tradition among Indian culture as they represent cleanliness and fragrance. The color marking of 'sinur' on the forehead indicates marriage. The ladies truly represent the fusion of western and Indian cultures.

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul

Bringing Indian art to the mainstream of American art is a desire of Ketki Mody, another 'Indo-Western artist. She joined the Cincinnati Art's Association: art ambassador group called BDAAC (Building Diverse Arts Advisory Committee http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/BDAAC) who hosted Artnet with this desire in mind. Ketki's medium is clay; she loves to mold it into beautiful, organic vases. If you like organic, non-traditional mold forms, then she is your artist. Ketki begins her designs visualizing "where and what I want to depict," adding a little something here and there: very organic and intuitive. "I like artistic forms and using a very festive approach." As in Indian tradition, she loves colors that 'pop'. As you can see, the red glitter balls gives her vase that extra pop she refers to.

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul

Like mother like son, Ketki's son, Vishal Mody, is quite the artist.  In "Playing the Board" Vishal uses contrasting vibrant red and black with subtle hints of canary yellow to reveal how we are not in control of our lives. There is a master of this game of life! Who is in charge of your life....?     

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul http://www.ourspiritandsoul.com/

      

The "Mask" by seventeen-year-old Vishar is brilliantly designed as it subconsciously symbolizes Indo-Western art as it brings together both cultures. Vishar's parents immediately recognized the Om (see below) in the center of the 'Mask' as the traditional symbol in Indian culture. But, from Vishar physical eye he only saw the Mask design; but is that all? I believe that we carry spiritual genes that store our cultural traditions within our psyche. Vishar  was born and educated in the United States, but as his mother reveals "we go back and forth within our cultures; he didn't know what he created." He saw the mask, his parents saw 'Om: the all encompassing symbol recognized in traditional Asian culture. Ironically, my international college student worker who is also from India walked into my office five minutes after I talked to Ketki about her. I showed Arpita, my college worker, Vishar's picture. You guessed it. Arpita, a senior,  immediately saw the Om. Vishar has a bright future as he has plans to attend University of Cincinnati to major in Aerospace Engineering while he continues his strong interest and talent in design. By the way, Vishar won a scholastic award for the 'Mask'. I'm sure 'Om' shall always be with him.           

  Symbol 'Om' the all encompassing, representing the highest support                     

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul

The proud parents of Vishar, Jay and Ketki Mody, recently celebrating 24 years of marriage on May 2nd. They met in Washington, DC, and married in India. Their meeting and marriage represents both worlds. Ketki often uses the term "bringing so much to the table". Indo-Western art and culture brings a lot to the table with a rich tradition that fits nicely within contemporary art.

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul


Ketki has high hopes for the future of Cincinnati! Ketki with the mayor of Cincinnati, Mark Mallory.

Photography by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul

It is my hope that in Cincinnati and other U.S. cities, we will begin to see the inclusion of more art forms (such as "Dancing by Julie Desai) into the mainstream of American Art. As Ketki says, such inclusion "brings so much to the table."

Thank you to Ketki Mody for providing me with an interview of such rich content!

You can see more products and upcoming events by Karen M Jenkins of Our Spirit and Soul@: http://ourspiritandsoul.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Ourspiritandsoul 
Follow my bi-weekly blog@ Karen's Photography and Art blog at http://ourspiritandsoulblog.blogspot.com/
Or follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KarenMJenkins
Whew...LOL!! @Pininterest@ http://pinterest.com/