Expressions Untitled/ An Exhibition of Paintings/Press Reports

Jammu, the 27th December,2007

Ramesh Mehta’s paintings on show
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 26: Ramesh Mehta’ s three-day painting exhibition titled ‘Expressions Untitled’, which opened at the Master Sansar Chand Gallery, Kala Kendra, here today, was yet another public display of well known Hindi writer and poet’s foray in to the visual arts.
A self-taught enthusiast, whose journey into the world of images started in 2003, with doodling and playful indulgence with varied color applications and forms, some with vague representational references, was received with empathy as well as reservation by the local community artists which by a large is academically trained.
Nonetheless, Ramesh Mehta has gone ahead with what could be an alternate medium of expression for him. Unlike his previous shows, the 30 works on display showcase before the viewers very many styles that range from abstract expressionistic splashes of colors to a kind of minimalist use of colors and forms.
Free from the burden of art history, the self-taught painters like Ramesh Mehta, at times seem to surprise many an established artists.
Ramesh Mehta, has already held one-person shows in state and outside and also participated in state and national exhibitions.

Kashmir Times, Jammu
27th December, 2009
Ramesh Mehta's paintings on display at Kala Kendra
Rohit Verma
JAMMU, Dec 26 : Latest paintings of veteran poet Ramesh Mehta are put on display at Master Sansar Chand Baru Gallery Kala Kendra entitled "Expressions Untitled". A three-day exhibition to conclude on 28th of December. A total number of 25 paintings are displayed in the gallery.
It was seventh solo show to the credit of Ramesh Mehta. His four shows have been organised by University of Jammu, Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar. SARHAD, Pune and North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala at Chandigarh. He also participated in AIFACS exhibition at state level and All India Art Exhibition organised by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar beside 47th Natioal Exhibition organised by Lalit Kala Akademi New Delhi took place at Lucknow in the year 2005.
It would not be out of place to mention here that in visual art, 'To imagine painting is a realm in itself and when we narrate the contents of paintings before others we enters into a different realm. Moreover, when we intends to transform the same into two dismensional frame of paintings we finally reaches to a totally contrary medium. Trio, realms are split in their characteristics and are different medium of expressions as well as sanctity of its own, we cannot relate each others.
Creative Wordsmith of rare magnitude Ramesh Mehta seems as if at the cross roads of above mentioned realms. He devoted his whole life to reach the pinnacle of glory as poet but he just embarked on the artistic voyage since 2003. How we can compare his persona equally as poet and painter so far. I had the occasion to witness his two solo shows in Jammu and his earlier works were better than of todays.
Nevertheless he can justify the realm of abstraction in his writings well but it will take time to understand abstract domain as painter for him. In this regard it needs to underline here that it is very easy to be complicated as painter but it is quite difficult to give vent to simple and intense visual statement in universal connotations.
The earlier worls of Mehta in its infancy were lyrical and suffused with poetic gravity and present works reveal technical fineness and are devoid of visual grammer. His impromptu approach of handlling the paintings with an air of sponteinity is good but require more experiential knowledge of aestheticism. It goes to the credit of Ramesh Mehta that even after his retirement as secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages he is doing more works as painter than his contemporary professional painters.

State of Hindi Literature - Sales

An excerpt from a news report calls for serious consideration from all the Hindi Lovers :

future of Hindi literature

Stationed beside a rack containing the pantheon of Western philosophical thought — neatly stacked Hindi translations of Russell, Marx, Thoreau and Machiavelli — Hind Pocket Books sales promotional officer R.P. Tiwari says he can sense the decline of Hindi readership even when he tours various places in search of business and if a piece of literature was not commercially viable, it would in all likelihood not be published.
Another significant facet of the readership equation is the apparently increasing age of readers — Hindi books seem to be read only by people well into or well past their middle age.

Literary Meets

My friend Dr. Arvind Gigoo has published the following letter in a Srinagar based English Daily "Greater Kashmir". I am compelled to reproduce it here because to me it appears that he is speaking the universal truth only :

Kashmiri Pandit Literary and Socio-cultural Associations
Listen

Many Kashmiri Pandit literary, socio-cultural and political organizations in Jammu arrange functions where books are released, “critical essays” are read out, speeches are made, and, at times, even discussions are held. The writers talk about their books (which nobody reads!) and the “critics”___ criticism is not everybody’s forte ___ evaluate them. Prizes are given away, pressmen click cameras, interviews are recorded, and then the tea and snacks…… Familiar elderly/old persons comprise the audience whom I (an old person) have been seeing for the past so many years.
When the functions are over the “littérateurs” indulge in backbiting and slander. They talk about the private lives of other writers and comment upon their personal affairs maliciously. After 9 p.m the “literati” and others talk against one another by telephone.
I see the clash of egos, jealousy, arrogance, self-deception, conceit and hate. The persons hunger for praise; some exhibit self-assertion. I have seen “critics” using bombast to belittle others. I have seen writers intolerant of criticism. (Low-grade criticism should be ignored). The bombastic speeches that are made, (un)critical judgements that are passed, and the verbosity and political jargon used by the “intellectuals” and “orators” are beyond my comprehension. Their analyses of books and events flabbergast me. I feel very small in the company of the “elite”.
The contribution of the exiles to literature, art and culture is immense. (Fortunately, I don’t know what culture is). In these meetings I am a shambles.
I am not an “eminent personality” or an “eminent citizen”. (Some newspapers told me this !). I am an émigré nobody. I don’t speak because I have nothing to say. My presence at these meetings has always proved useless. I am not associated with any organization. I want to remain away from the contagion of backbiting, mud-slinging and slander.
My hobbies are smoking, sleeping, laughing, laziness, foolery, drinking and talking to a select few. I am the best in the corner of my room. Let me sit there alone. I hold the night in my grip. Some dead genius is my only companion in loneliness. Please, don’t disturb me. No more invitation cards/letters and phone calls in future, please!
Arvind Gigoo
House No:111 Sector: 2
EWS Lower Roop Nagar Jammu.
180013