Delhi Times
Sunday January 25 2004

A CALL OF THE WILD DESERT!

Even as the mercury continues to fall in Delhi, the art scene in the Capital is getting hotter by the day. The latest engagement of the arty kind is the painting exhibition of artist Madhu Jain. The exhibition was inaugurated in style by the Italian ambassador Benedetto Amari, who sure was very appreciative of the colorful life of the "wild desert of Rajasthan". After the lighting of the lamp, it was time for an informal tete-a tete with the artist over some hot snacks and juice.

To appreciate this exhibition, a one liner was enough-it's different. And now, to justify this oft repeated cliche, the first major difference was the medium used by Madhu. Incidentally, Madhu is a follower of Japanese technique of Nihonga, where-in eco-friendly medium of rock-mineral pigments is used on hand made paper. Going by the who's who present at the do, the art of India seems to be a big draw among the foreign community.

Present were Margarita, the wife of the Italian ambassador, first secretary of the Japanese Embassy Ken Noguchi, Russian artist Ludmilla Chakraborty and Marithi Larretgere.