Art Ichol Journal

Scavenger’s Trick
I first met Ambica Beri in 2005. I didn’t know then that many opportunities would
come our way to forge a friendship based on mutual trust and admiration. It was after
my exhibition ‘Devi’ in Kolkata that Mrs. Beri invited me for a workshop to Maihar.
I can’t forget the sight of her clad in white, as she stood at the railway station. She had
come to receive me, herself. That day Mrs. Beri became Ambica di for me. It showed
that her friendship was truly generous and genuine. It was then in Maihar that we first
spoke about Art Ichol and she suggested I come on board for the project.
I recall being hesitant as I had problems travelling and other health issues. I was
concerned whether or not I could handle the travelling and also the on-site and offsite
work. However, when I saw the chhatri and baoli at Ichol, the hillock and the
location itself, I fell for its charm. That aside, I realized what this project meant to
Ambica di and wanted to be part of realizing her vision. She needed the right kind of
people to build her dream, pull it from its mirage and make it a standing structure.
I’ve always believed that art should be able to touch the lives of ordinary people and
that I as an artist should enable it to enrich ordinary lives. This project could be a
conduit for that. It was envisioned as a place where mixed streams of art would meet
and provide the platform for all sorts of creative individuals to interact. This was a
major factor in alleviating the uncertainty and I am happy to have been able to share
in the making of Art Ichol.
I travelled with Ambica di to Rewa, Govindgarh Fort, Panna, Khajuraho and
Bandhavgarh to get a feel of the area so that we could build the art centre in sync
with local and cultural parameters. Through my travel excursions with Ambica di,
I discovered the classic palette and essence of Madhya Pradesh. I realized that I had to
incorporate Indian elements yet be original, inventive but classic, contemporary and
creative. It had to be a space that could accommodate other works of art and inspire
future ones. And as Ambica di said, it had to be a work of art in itself.
The location was in the middle of nowhere so it was felt that the local people would
need to connect with it. Yet, the art centre would have to make a statement bold
enough to attract people from all parts of the world. As an artist, I’ve always wanted