12th January 2016- just any other day in Mumbai’s busy life. But there was an unusual but pleasant commotion in certain garden in Borivali. There was something happening which has never happened before. Artists and art students from various parts of india had gathered in that garden for it had become a colourful oasis in otherwise grey world.
The curious glances from the onlookers did not disturb their trance. They were calmly busy in drawing and colouring their respective canvases. Different painters possessed different models. Some models were standing in scorching heat of the sun; on other hand some were thankful for the cool shadow of a thriving tree.
The sole reason for all this motion was 161st birth anniversary of one of the legendaryAmerican artist – John Singer Sargent. The idea was a brainchild of two artists who happened to be friends and equally in awe of the maestro – Akshay Pai and Abhishek Acharya. Without further delay, they immediately shared their idea with legendary artist Mr. Vasudeo Kamath, Being an ardent lover of Sargent’s work, Vasudeo Kamath, under the banner of his ‘Portrait Artist’s Group, arranged a programme realising this unique idea.
The day started at 9 in the morning. The formal inauguration of programme was done when Vasudeo Kamath made a portrait of the chief guest. That started a continuous and tireless chain of seven hours and many portraits. Of course, all portraits were to pay an homage to none other than Mr. John Singer Sargent. Almost 50 artists and approximately 500 -700 art admirers alike had gathered there.
In the evening, Riyaz Samadhan anchored a well- informed slide show, depicting Sargent’s painting. He beautifully unfolded the fascinating life of John Singer Sargent who had done more than 900 oil paintings, more that 2000 water-color paintings and innumerable sketches in his lifetime.
Sargent’s painting is an undying source of inspiration to every artist in modern world. Artists who came out to pay their artistic respect to sargent definitely went away with something cherishable, valuable and mesmerising which again proves the long term legacy of John Singer Sargent.