Painting

This award was given to me when a student in MS University Baroda. It was timely and helped me to be more articulate by using photographs, travelling to Mumbai to meet the late K K Hebbar. My document was the first critical assessment of the artist and was published in Bangalore (where I was then Lecturer at Chritakala Parishath, in the local language Kannada.

This grant was helpful in preparing a convincing research proposal for the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the M S University of Baroda. Subsequently I was engaged in documentation works towards the study. The research experience also gave me the confidence to handle the ambitions and take part in a major art exhibition - Art of Bengal, Past and Present - a joint venture with the Centre of International Modern Art, Kolkata.

My internship in the paper conservation department at the Hamilton Kerr Institute at the University of Cambridge was really interesting and exciting. It is not an exaggeration if I sawy it is a well equipped conservation studio with highly experienced conservators. My aim was to learn some advanced techniques implemented in conservation, mainly on Indian miniature paintings and western paintings on paper. I was looking for various techniques on consolidation, lining of paper paintings, relaxing of cockled and wrinkled paintings, filling of missing areas and mounting techniques.

The grant was received after I had completed background research on this project and was ready to go for my first field trip, an essential part of any archaeological research project. It allowed me to carry out fieldwork in Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh,  and adjoining areas. This was my first field trip and had an enormous impact on my career in Archaeology. It formed the basis of my study and helped me to crystallize my ideas. After receiving this award I have continued with my research and documentation work on other sites in similar geographical settings.