Basant Soni

TECHNIQUE FOR 'COLLAGES' MADE FROM NATURAL MATERIALS

*Flowers, leaves.twigs, petals of various colors and textures are dried commonly in shadow
suitably under light pressure.
*As my 'Canvases' are also from natural materials i.e. Bark of Palm tree leaves. These are dried
under uniform pressure so as to get absolute straightness and plane surface as far as possible.
*Applying requisite glue on both surfaces that of canvases and flowers/leaves etc.the collages are
generated based on creation and imagination of art.
*Lastly appropriate coating of chemical solutions are applied as sort of lamination coatings to get
prolong life of collages.
* Finally framing of Collage with Plexiglases/glass as the case may be, carried out for protection
from all angles..

"PHILOSOPHY OF NEW CONCEPT OF COLLEGES"
During olden days paintings on monuments/forts/temples-walls and inner surfaces of caves were made with the help of colors obtained directly from natural resources viz. flowers,leaves, tree-stems,roots etc. Sometime these crude natural colors are processed/treated mixed with oil/resins suitably to enhance their life .With change of technological advancement ,the colors of different varieties viz oil/acrylic/water colors etc. etc.having brightness and self-life are commercially processed.These are available in market.Mostly all paintings/pictures are made with these available colors on paper/cloth canvas.
Earth possessed colorful natural materials of immense varsities-flowers leaves, twigs, petals, bark of trees leaves etc. Why not to use these natural materials directly adopting suitably drying process.. ?.Thing that discarded by nature to perish in time become my starting point for my mind.To suit my way of working i found new concept/philosophy making compositions using these natural colors/textures/forms on treated bark of palm tree leaves.It become an interesting process of finding objects and elements from nature & rejuvenate them which offers a new life & identity in my compositions .It was challenging process each time i worked because my palette consisted only of natural materials & colors.
Nature is constant change it's human mind which immortalizes it ,hence new concept of making with above philosophy "Collages" generated by me after pasting/gluing all natural materials directly on canvas-bark.
i define this Collage as "IMMORTALS"*
( *perishable natural things converted
to an Art which remains forever)

WORK SHOP ON COLLAGES ORGANIZED TO CHILDREN

Four days workshop was organized at Lal bahadur Higher Secondary School
Shastry Nagar ,JABALPUR(M P) during summer camp at school campus,29th may-02 Jun '07
• Very first two days after delivering in short introduction and scope of paintings-water/ Acrylic/ and oil colors etc.
• .Method of making various sketches/drawings with perceptions and
proportional views etc.
• The practice of object and nature drawings.
• Third day with introduction of paper- collages then explained collages made from all natural materials …dried flowers .twigs, petals pasting on Canvas of Bark of Palm tree leaves. All children were demonstrated with actual methodology so that pasting of all natural materials can be visualized/acquainted with work of collages.
• Forth day assimilated the complete session and observed the interest of collage work. Evening-session, work were exhibited by all children before principal of school Workshop was concluded with lecture by principal .All efforts were appreciated by principal and organizer .Then group photograph was taken by n local News paper-press photographer.
• I given thanks to school principal for such nice Workshop on Collages

* BEST AWARD

Achieved Best award in Painting Competition organized at Kala Niketan Art Gallery
Jabalpur (MP) by Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad (Rewa and Jabalpur Sanbhag)The Title of
painting was "Bhagna-awashesh"It was spot painting of one of ruined Palace constucted/built by father-in-law
of Queen Durga wati of Godwana Rajya of Madhaya Pradesh.INDIA. It is as old as more than four hundred years.
The present status of ruined palace is so bad that walls and left over portion of palace fallen on to grounds and ruined palace now converted in-to pond like place surrounded with big & small trees/shrubs.The spot is located about eight Km from Jabalpur city of MP, INDIA

*PRIZES/ACHIEVEMENTS

Several prizes and certificates awarded in number of Paintings competitions organized by various social/private/public and government organizations since my school/college career till date.

During recent exhibition held at Ahemdabad, the News/report covered in News paper
"INDIAN EXPRESS" is reflected in the side image.

- Expositions/Exhibitions
* Miniature paintings exhibition(on wooden flat base of match box)at
local Art Gallery
* Collage Work Show in various cities of Madhya Pradesh,India
* Collage Works created from natural materials like dried flowers,
leaves,petals,twigs etc.on*bark of palm tree-leaves(*bark selected as
canvas)recent show at 'Contemporary Art Gallery' Ahmedabad,India
GROUP SHOW
* Participated in several group shows sponsored/organized by Madhya
Pradesh Kala Parishad at Jabalpur & various social Organizations /
Institutions.

A solo show of my 'Collages'-Work organized during at
'Contemporary Art Gallery' Ahemdabad (Gujrat)INDIA.

INSPIRATION IN DEVELOPMENT OF ART "IMMORTALS"

As my father late Sunder Lal Soni, was a musician and painter, during childhood,i used to devote most of the time with listening classical music and work of his paintings. Subsequently, i devoted my leisure time deeply in his paintings work.The expression of my inner feelings through paintings/collages gave me inner satisfaction apart from my engineering profession. My father was a real inspiration in development of my Art.i would often made sketches and water colors-paintings from nature & my surroundings.I always utilize my inherent feelings of creativity and apply in the field of art.
When i got time & opportunity i started working in the form of collages created by natural materials like dried flowers,leaves twigs, petals etc.Things that discarded by nature to perish in time became a starting point for my mind.Natural materials to use them as natural forms and textures to create my compositions.To suit my way of working i found a way to treat bark of palm tree leaves and make them my canvases.It became an interesting process of finding objects & rejuvenate them which offers a new life & identity in my compositions.
Nature is constant change, it's human mind which immortalizes it and convert the nature in to art.Accordingly i define my Collage as"IMMORTALS"
Further.. in my words... "Immortals"....are..........Novel
---------Innovative
---------Creative
---------Inspiring to every one
QUALIFICATION:

* B E (HONS) Mechanical Engineering
* Elementary & Intermediate Drawings Exams from Sir J J School of Arts Mumbai

OCCUPATION:

* Ex-DGQA Officer in Min of De fence
* Full time engaged in creation of "Collages"made from all natural materials
and related activities.
CONTACTS:

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