Noida, India – 20th of August 2019

Pragnesh Patel is the artist of the month at Indian Art Ideas. He is a modern contemporary painter of Indian origin whose paintings feature both doctrines of the artworld i.e ‘Truth for Art’ and ‘Art for Art’s sake’. He holds a diploma in Drawing and Painting from the prestigious institute of B. A. Mehta Kala Mahavidyalaya Amalsad, S.E.B. Gandhinagar, Gujrat.

Somewhere around the middle of the year 1800, artworld witnessed a debate. The point of its concern was whether art had any role whatsoever in building the society of which it is a part. John Ruskin, eminent and well-regarded artist of Victorian-era propounded the theory of ‘Truth for Art’.

He had a firm belief that art was a catalyst of change. It had the power to make it better. According to him, this could only be achieved when art is capable enough to portray nature in a faithful way. Ruskin was, in reality, a true admirer of nature and its sheer beauty.

Similarly, Pragnesh seems to have a view that one could reach divine and experience pure spirituality by encountering nature in its grandeur. He promoted that every artist is under an obligation to be truthful in depicting nature in their work. His work also does the same.

According to Art for Art’s sake, art only has a hedonistic purpose. But, this not hold true in reality. It is like saying that only beautiful things are needed for living life which is entirely false. One might destroy all the flowers from the earth and the world wouldn't go through hard times materialistically. This sense is beautifully countered in Pragnesh’s Paintings.

Essentially, art was devoid of any social purpose which is in stark opposition to what he depicts through his work. The followers of this doctrine always saw the social utility of art with suspicion and sometimes even with contempt. If every art is subjected to the doctrine of utility and purpose then it will lose all its aesthetic appeal. Whistler, the great British painter supported this theory by stating,” Art has become foolishly confounded with education.” In this, the purpose of beauty was to evoke emotions relating to aestheticism which only pleases the eye. It had no spiritual or hidden meaning.

Pragnesh’s work like fresh dewdrop breaks all these dogma’s and gives a treat to the eyes and soul too. His paintings have aesthetic as well as hedonistic appeal. He has conducted six Group and solo art exhibitions and he has been awarded many accolades which are as follows:-

1. The Bombay Art Society Mumbai - 2008
2. The Art Society of India Mumbai - 2010
3. Manav Sanket Academy Art Festival Ujjain - 2010
4. Gujrat Kala Pratisthan Surat - 2008, 2009, 2011
5. Jaipur Award, B. A. Mehta Kala Mahavidyalaya Amalsad - 2010, 2009
6. B. A. Mehta Kala Mahavidyalaya Amalsad- 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

India art Ideas cherish and celebrate the works of this artist of the month. Check here: https://www.indianartideas.in/artist-of-the-month/5934