Art In Art

Art In Art

by Omprakash Sharma


Position of the Creative Arts in Society raises certain questions in the minds of people, specially those who are concerned with them. Why art, and its need for human expression? How is art to be evaluated? What are the different levels on which expression through art takes place? What separates good art from bad art? How does art document and communicate? What is Beauty, and how do recent trends reflect its changing connotation? Difficult as these questions are, they need to be answered in a way which makes are more meaningful.


After wielding the brush, playing the sitar, interaction with other creative arts, administrating and teaching for decades, Omprakash Sharma has put together all his experiences to present a holistic view of the Arts. Thus the ideas expressed in this book are of someone who has himself been involved in the process of creating art - its ecstasies, trials and agonies. This lends the book a purposeful subjectivity. At the same time, the numerous references of observations mad by others in their creative journey impart to it a vital objectivity.


The Creative Arts have generated tremendous interest and dialogue in the past few decades. Therefore such a book was greatly needed and it is hoped that 'Art in Art' will bring necessary perspective.


About The Author:


Born December 14, 1932. Received the National Diploma in Fine Art from Delhi Polytechnic, 1958. Went to Columbia University, New York, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar for  Post Graduate studies in Fine Art and Art History, 1964-66.


Taught Fine Art since 1951. Head of the Art Department at the school of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, 1961-81. Principal, College of Art, New Delhi, 1981- till retirement 1992.


Held 37 solo exhibitions of paintings in India and abroad. Participated in several national and international exhibitions. Won a number of coveted awards, including the National Award of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1969.


Written about in important magazines and art columns. Gave several public talks on invitaitons by art societies, clubs, museums and institutions in India and abroad. Delhi Doordarshan made a film in 1987 on his life and art. Advisor to various important state and private art committees, university councils and institutions.


Now devoting full time to his creative work-painting, playing sitar, reading and writing--at his residence-cum-studio in Delhi.