15 Feb23201 Best Contemporary Artist - Maharashtra, India Mumbai-based eminent artist Dr Archana Srivastava describes herself as an ‘artrepreneur’. As both an artist and an entrepreneur, she employs her immense talents as a force for good and is passionate about conserving India’s rich art heritage, both classical and contemporary. We chat with Archana to find out more about this enigmatic champion of the arts. Dr Archana Srivastava holds a doctorate degree in Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, but her main passion is art. She tells us, “Art for me is a subtle form of expression. A vision that makes the intangible appear tangible. It makes complex subjects seem simple, practical, and adaptable. My art has always been thematic and message-oriented. Through my humble efforts, I try to delineate metaphorically, the non-obvious and allusive. As an artist, I aim to create meaningful and thought-provoking art which enriches mind and soul.” Over the last two decades, Archana has experimented with different genres such as figures, abstracts and landscapes to create pieces whose roots lie deep in Indian culture and philosophy. As a child, Archana was always passionate about art, even winning competitions for her painting. Even so, she chose to follow an academic path, pursuing her art as a hobby. And it wasn’t until 1999 that, persuaded by her family, she held her first art exhibition. It was so well-received that Archana became a full-time professional artist. Archana’s works include an esoteric portrayal of the Hindu text: the Bhagavad Gita, devotional renditions of Radha-Krishna, and a delineation of metaphysical aspects of Buddhism. Her endeavours have been rewarded with accolades such as the Indian Achiever’s Forum’s Woman of Excellence Award 2020, Collector’s Vision International Art Award 2021, the Power of Creativity Art Prize 2021, and The Collectors Art Prize 2023. In recent years, Archana’s works of art have graced exhibitions in Shanghai, Cannes, Barcelona, and Tokyo. She’s also been chosen to receive the Leonardo da Vinci International Prize, an award ceremony which is to be held in Milan this April. As well as her work as an artist, Archana is the CEO and founder of ArtSage, a startup committed to supporting Indian art and artists. Through ArtSage, Archana plans to help the artists by providing the resources they need for enhancing their creative process. By providing a platform to market artworks, ArtSage is creating awareness and promoting the cultural significance of Indian traditional art. This, in turn, enriches the lives of not only the artists but also of the wider audience that they are able to reach. Archana explains, “The folk and tribal art of India is rich in tradition and heritage and celebrated throughout the world. But the conditions under which the artists and artisans work isn’t pleasant. They’re rarely given their due. The artists themselves command a very low price. But their work is resold at insanely high prices on regional, national, and international markets. Many artists quit, opting for menial jobs in their villages instead. In addition to helping them upgrade their skills, our mission is to protect our artists from being exploited and support them in any way we can.” In March 2023, ArtSage featured in the Tokyo Tower Art Fair and it will showcase the artworks of folk, tribal, classical, and contemporary artists at the Focus Art Fair in New York in May 2023. Archana is currently working on her own exhibitions ‘Ibaadat’ and ‘Science of Soul-A Vedic Perspective’. Her collections will feature both paintings and 3-D installations. Contact: Dr Archana Srivastava Company: Archana Srivastava & ArtSage PVT Ltd Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.archanasrivastava.com https://www.artsage.in
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