Art and Independence (YG Srimati and the Indian Style)

• Offers a historical corrective to re-establish the legacy of YG Srimati, one of modern India's finest artists • At a time when there is renewed interest in the voices and works of women artists, this volume takes us through the life and genius of one such artist from India • This volume offers an insight into the way that styles and trends influence the art world, with artists falling out of favor for complex reasons that have nothing to do with talent • Beautifully illustrated with nearly 130 images The career of Y.G. Srimati - classical singer, musician, dancer and painter - represents a continuum in which each of these skills and experiences merged, influencing and pollinating each other. Born in Mysore in 1926, Srimati was part of the generation much influenced by the rediscovery of a classical Sanskrit legacy devoted to the visual arts. Soon swept up in the nationalist movement for an independent India, she was deeply moved by the time she spent with Mahatma Gandhi. For the young Srimati, the explicit referencing of the past and of religious subjects came together in an unparalleled way, driven by the conscious striving for an indigenous agenda. This experience gave form and meaning to her art, and largely defined her style. As John Guy demonstrates in this sumptuous volume, as a painter of the mid and late twentieth century, Y.G. Srimati embodied a traditionalist position, steadfast in her vision of an Indian style, one which resonated with those who knew India best.