Latest news with #Maity
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Artist Paresh Maity on his watercolour inspired by India's rich diversity that will be unveiled at Cannes Film Festival on May 18
The spotlight might be on film personalities and films headed to the 78th Cannes Film Festival, but the red carpet at the prestigious event will also see an Indian artwork and artist this year. Making his debut at Cannes will be Delhi-based artist Paresh Maity, who will also be showing his watercolour at the event. 'It gives me extreme happiness and pride to be invited to represent Indian art and culture on the global platform,' said the artist, speaking to The Indian Express hours after he landed in the French resort town. His watercolour that will be unveiled at Cannes on May 18 is inspired by India and its rich diversity. 'It celebrates India, its deep-rooted history, culture and diverse landscape,' says Maity. The 1.5 ft 1.5 ft artwork, he adds, references different parts of the country — from the snow-clad Himalayan peaks to Dal Lake in Kashmir, phulkari from Punjab, the forest greens of Madhya Pradesh, Hampi in Karnataka, Mahabalipuram on the Coromandel Coast, and the Indian ocean. 'These are all places I have visited, experienced and spent a lot of time in. Not many other countries can boast of such varied landscape and history,' adds Maity, 60. A post shared by Paresh Maity (@pareshmaityofficial) Known for a visual vocabulary that traverses multiple mediums, in a career spanning over four decades, the postgraduate from the College of Art in Delhi has addressed numerous themes, bringing to life through his colour palette cities from across the globe, from the bustling ghats of Varanasi to the Venetian Piazzetta. The Padma Shri awardee has also taken inspiration from the French Riviera and the impressionist style that developed in France mid-to-late 19th century, characterised by visible brushstrokes and strong emphasises on light and its effect on colour. Looking forward to catching up on world cinema and discussing his art with those in attendance at the film festival, Maity also intends to paint during the trip. On his itinerary are visits to art museums and galleries. 'I'll be here till the end of the month and intend to make the most of it, including painting,' says the artist.
News18
22-04-2025
- Business
- News18
Kashmir May Get Its First Rose Garden, Thanks to Bengal's Maestro
Last Updated: Building on the success of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, this initiative aims to elevate the Valley's tourism with a new floral attraction Kashmir is set to bloom with its first dedicated rose garden, a visionary project led by West Bengal's renowned rose breeder Pranabir Maity and supported by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Building on the success of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, this initiative aims to elevate the Valley's tourism with a new floral attraction. Maity, who runs Pushpanjali Pranabir—one of India's largest rose nurseries, boasting over 3,500 varieties—visited Srinagar's Tulip Garden and noticed a gap. Despite Kashmir's ideal conditions for roses, there was no curated rose display, inspiring his bold proposal. 'Kashmir's cool nights, long daylight hours, and rich soil are perfect for roses," Maity told News18. 'It's surprising there's no dedicated rose garden here. We saw scattered roses but nothing structured. That's when the idea struck." Maity has offered to develop the rose garden at no cost, provided the Jammu and Kashmir government identifies and allocates land. His plan includes supplying thousands of rose plants and offering expert guidance throughout the project. 'We're committed to providing the plants and expertise for a world-class rose garden," he said. 'Kashmir's unique climate is exactly what roses thrive on." The proposal has earned a positive response from the CM, who told News18 he is seriously considering the idea. 'That's very interesting, and something I would like to pursue," the CM said. 'Let me discuss this with the Floriculture Department and see what is possible." With Kashmir regaining stability and tourists flocking to escape the plains' soaring temperatures, a rose garden would add to the Valley's allure alongside the Tulip Garden, Mughal Gardens, and other attractions. Visitors seeking beauty and tranquillity could find the garden a perfect addition to Kashmir's growing tourism scene. If implemented, the rose garden could extend the tourism calendar beyond the March-April tulip season. With roses blooming from May through early winter, the Valley could become a multi-season floral destination. A TOURISM SUCCESS STORY Srinagar's Tulip Garden, nestled at the foothills of Zabarwan overlooking Dal Lake, has been a major draw since 2008. With over 1.5 million tulip bulbs, it attracts lakhs of tourists annually. This year, it welcomed a record 4.46 lakh visitors in just 15 days. Tourism stakeholders believe a rose garden could stretch the floral season into autumn, promoting sustainable tourism year-round. #WATCH Jammu & Kashmir | Tourists and visitors flock to the Tulip Garden in Srinagar as they enjoy the picturesque sight of flowers amid mountains — ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2022 FROM BENGAL TO THE VALLEY Maity's nursery, Pushpanjali Pranabir in Paschim Medinipur, is renowned among India's horticulturists. Housing over 3,500 rose varieties, including hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, climbers, shrubs, and exotic exhibition roses, it supplies public gardens, private collectors, and export markets while championing rare and indigenous species. 'Our goal is to celebrate rose biodiversity," Maity said. 'Kashmir deserves a garden that showcases roses as heritage and art." A GLOBAL TREND Dedicated rose gardens are cherished worldwide as cultural and horticultural landmarks: Queen Mary's Rose Garden in London, with over 12,000 roses, is a top UK attraction. Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden in New York, part of the New York Botanical Garden, is known for sustainable cultivation and heritage hybrids. Zakir Hussain Rose Garden in Chandigarh, spanning 30 acres with 1,600 varieties, hosts an annual Rose Festival drawing thousands. Experts believe a well-designed Kashmir rose garden could rival these, placing the Valley on the global floral tourism map. — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 7, 2025 LOOKING AHEAD As the proposal awaits administrative approval, excitement builds among horticulturists and tourism stakeholders. top videos View all 'This is more than a garden—it's a chance to diversify tourism, promote eco-awareness, and create a living museum of roses," Maity said. With nature, history, and the CM's support, the idea of a rose garden in Kashmir is taking root. Whether it becomes the Valley's next big attraction remains to be seen. First Published: News india Kashmir May Get Its First Rose Garden, Thanks to Bengal's Maestro | News18 Exclusive
Gulf Today
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
‘Crickart': Paresh Maity's cricket canvases keep scoreboard ticking
The 'Cricket's Greatest Canvas' exhibition which, which recently came to a close after celebrating the marriage of sport and art, saw Indian artist Paresh Maity presenting his artworks on cricket. The event was hosted by Art be a Part, in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Gameplan; it also marked the first solo show in Dubai for Maity. The exhibition showcased 12 original works inspired by the 2023 ICC Men's World Cup. Maity's brush exerted itself to capture the passion and spirit of cricket through the works. The timing of the exhibition was exquisite: ICC Champions Trophy was held also in Dubai, where India won the trophy on March 9. Maity is internationally acclaimed for his diverse artistic repertoire, which spans over four decades and includes 88 solo exhibitions worldwide. Renowned for his vibrant watercolours, expansive murals and mixed media works, he brought his signature style to cricket, blending movement, emotion, and energy into vibrant, classical canvases. He fields Gulf Today's questions. How did you develop an interest in cricket? My deep interest in cricket started in 1983, when India won the World Cup under the captainship of Kapil Dev, who is my favourite cricketer. When I witnessed the match on television as a young boy, the energy and the excitement really made an impact on me and my peers. Since then, cricket has become an integral part of my life. The artist's view of a match. Why did you think cricket lends itself to art? My vision is to transform everything into a piece of art, be it sports like cricket, football or creative pursuits like music, jugalbandi (duets) with maestros of music, or dance, that I have performed in the past with renowned dancer Birju Maharaj. So, when I was approached by ICC and Gameplan, I thought, why not expand my horizons to cricket? To combine art and cricket was a completely new experiment for me and as the curious mind of an artist always wants to try something new, I thought this was a perfect opportunity. What were the challenges involved in working in cricket stadiums? Yes, there were a lot of challenges. For example, to capture the essence of a match in a live setting on the cricket ground. Just imagine, millions of people experiencing the energy and excitement of the match; so much noise, the vigour and zest, all eyes on the match as well as on your creation. But I am very used to painting in front of people and audiences, absorbing their energies into my canvas. From a very young age, I have been doing outdoor paintings and have visited different places across the globe from Venice, capturing the skyline and canals, to Japan with the beautiful cherry blossoms, to the tranquil ghats of Varanasi or other parts of the world, Thus, while it was challenging, I was so engrossed, I forgot what was happening around me. I also believe challenges in life are important for your growth; that is why I love to face any challenges that come my way. The drama of cricket. Were you present at all the matches shown in the paintings? I did five live matches and seven of them, I did while watching television. It was not logistically possible for me to travel to all the venues. With my art materials, including huge canvases and easels, going to all the matches was not feasible. Thus, I did some from my studio. You are primarily known for your landscapes or portraits. What made you change to sports? Yes, primarily, I do landscapes or portraits or different kinds of compositions. But, as I mentioned earlier, I do not wish to put a barrier on my art in any form. I always want to challenge myself and expand my horizons, be it cricket, any other sport or other creative pursuits, I am always open to new things. The idea and concept is the main thing that should be one's focus. It does not matter if the mediums change, the subjects change - tomorrow I might experiment with other materials such as wood or metal. There should be no boundaries in art. Paresh Maity before his artwork. What aspects of cricket do you like? I find that the most exciting aspect of a game, especially cricket, is the unity that it develops. Whenever a match happens, children, young adults, people from all walks of life, are united in the support of their respective countries or teams. Everyone is united as one, be it the winning team or the defeated team. I am really drawn to this aspect of the game. What about women's cricket? When do you plan to paint women cricketers? Yes, women's cricket is getting increasingly popular by the day and I would be delighted and honoured to have the pleasure of painting a women's cricket live match one day. Why did you choose to collaborate with Art be a Part to bring this exhibition to life? I chose Art be a Part because when I got to know about them, I came across their mandate to do charitable work. They work with UNICEF, aid young artists and undertake excellent social work, especially in India. Our visions aligned and both of us have a lot of love and passion for the arts. So we came together for this exhibition. I always feel that since we take so much from society, giving back to it is essential.
