A decade ago, Cinefan started primarily as a film festival for ?quality? cinema. Now after 10 years, the size of the festival has become enormous, with nearly 200 films showing this year. What has also changed meanwhile is the funding, which today primarily comes from art activities at Osian?s. ?Art is funding the rest of our activities,? says Neville Tuli, founder-chairman, Osian?s. And he does not see that changing for the next few years.
Art at the festival has two major components ? an auction and an art exhibition showcasing Asian art, including rare Indian art. Continuing Cinefan?s love affair with Japan, those visiting Delhi?s Visual Arts Gallery till July 20 will be greeted by a series of colourful and fierce looking gosukos or armour worn by the famed Samurai warriors, each of which is supposed to have a soul of their own. Japan is also present through a collection of ningyo or dolls, made of wood, paper, ivory, reed or ceramic. As are the byobu or folding screens, popular in the Edo period, which have recorded a rich panorama of life. Erotic art has representations from both China and Japan. Art from the latter, called shunyu or ?image of spring?, is a type of ukiyo-e, executed in woodblock print and used as teaching guides, with dolls beginning in the 19th century. Chinese erotic art, or ?spring palace paintings,? which developed with the rise of the mercantile class in the 10th century and flourished under the liberal Mings, show a rich tapestry of beauty and harmony.
Two stunning automations, a panorama of popular craftsmanship from China will also make you stop and wonder at the magnificence of craftsmanship. And for those who get their thrills by seeing ancient treasures (admittedly few!), there?s a Chinese helmet dating back to 500 BC!
A number of Tibetan thangkas and Nepali paubas provide another geographical and artistic dimension to the exhibition ? similar work, differing aesthetics. The paubas exhibited are of two types ? pala, or illustrative paintings of deities and mandala ? schematic representation of the cosmos. Also don?t miss a miniature Buddhist shrine from Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century, made of gilded wood with iron wire with coloured glass and mirrors on gold leaf and lacquer.
Indian art is represented through a range of works from different schools and time periods. On show are works from both Pahari and Rajputana styles of Mughal art. There is a series prepared for the rulers of Mandi which has Kali battling the demon Raktabija from Devi Mahamatya, part of the Markandeya Purana. There?s a rare folio from an Akbari period Ramayana, in the Mughal style. All this is to be housed in Osian?s under construction museum in Mumbai, Osianama, scheduled to open about a year from now. ?There is a cohesion of culture in the 3,65,000 works of art, whether it is in the political propaganda of lithographs or the sculptures from around the world,? says Tuli.
The auction, as in past years has its ABC ? art, books, cinema. Art further subdivides into three major parts ? Modern Masters, Post Modern Masters and Contemporary Art. Works of masters like SH Raza, Abanindranath Tagore, MF Husain, VS Gaitonde and J Sultan Ali are up for bidding. To be held on July 15, the auction this time has a significantly higher number of film memorabilia among the 201 lots. ?Film memorabilia including lobby cards, song synopsis booklets and large format hand-painted posters will feature auction lots dedicated to Hindi cinema,? informs Tuli. The auction also has a focus on Rajesh Khanna through various lots, featuring his films Amar Prem, Aradhana, Do Raaste, Kati Patang and Prem Nagar. There are also posters of films as well as foreign release posters of Satyajit Ray Films.