Less than a decade into its inception, Pseudorealism, the fresh new genre of art, initiated by Indian artist Devajyoti Ray is emerging as the next in-thing in the world of fine art. In 2008, two books had passingly mentioned Pseudorealism as ‘the emerging new style of contemporary Indian art’ (What is Art Now, page 323). Now in 2011, two new books have increased our curiosity even further.
The first of these two books titled, “Images changeantes de l’Inde et de l’Afrique” written by Geetha Ganapathy Dore and Michel Olinga and published by L’Harmattan carrying in its cover a painting by Devajyoti Ray talks about the changing aesthetics in modern Indian and African imagery. The book traces the influence of Pseudorealism as an emerging style whose influence can already be seen in the realm of various commercial blow-ups these days. The book also discusses at length the newer ideas that are similarly transforming the films, the literary and the popular art spaces.
New Book by Geetha Ganapathy Dore and Michel Olinga
The second book titled ‘Asian Art’ compiled by mobile references, makes a very large sweep across almost the whole of Asia and analyses the trends in these various new art destinations of Beijing, Shanghai, Seol, Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Sharjah and Dubai. The book once again tells volumes about Pseudorealism and indicates why this comparatively unknown genre even a few years ago is suddenly becoming the most easily selling one.
So what is it that makes Pseudorealism such a hot thing suddenly? To start with, perhaps the genre’s new appeal lies in its easy comprehensibility. It does not require the assistance of any curator or a gallery speacialist (perhaps the two most hated words in the recession-hit art-world) to make one understand a Ray work. As the world is now seeing the upsurge of new internet savvy generation that doubts almost anything that mainstream media peddles as news, Pseudorealism seems the most original style quite in line with this sentiment. One does not need to be an expert and yet not just love art but also understand it; this seems to be the central message of Ray.
