Artist & Author
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‘At the gates of Talbosh’ invites the viewers to a game of playful discoveries. I have depicted a whirling fabled world where life happens differently. Talbosh is an imaginary place, where the reality has been twisted and pulled, distorted and turned upside down. Without a known originator, the stories seem to have seeded themselves and each story effortlessly segues into another with a promise of a slow escape.
Anybody who has ever written a book or took the artistic route would agree that it is often a lonely journey, yet it is filled with passion and unflinching desire. In a strange way it is like revelling in a world of duality. On one side it may feel emotionally gratifying, but on the other hand, it can be intellectually consuming. In my journey, I have had my fair shares of highs and lows. Of course, if I ever get a chance to hop on a Time Machine and travel backwards, I would certainly choose to do a few things differently.
Choosing an artistic career is like taking a plunge into a boundary less world of infinity and self-discovery. But then it is not easy to resist the tugs of conformity. The journey of Art is not without traps and pitfalls. Right from battling the noises of doubts, to carving a space in a world where there are no definitive outcomes. Truth be told, it took me a while to hold my ground and find my rhythm. But then I believe that we learn better from our mistakes.
Economics helps me to think strategically and hooks me to the world of reality, whereas Art and writing scuttles me to a demystifying land where I play, decode and recreate new worlds with imagination. These opposite worlds have their own charm and I like to dwell between the two.
Right now I am working on the final draft of my two upcoming books, ‘Don’t Kill The Cat – Be a Creative Misfit’ which is a book about adopting a holistic approach for developing creative intelligence with 5 easy steps. And my second project is a work of fiction written for children, ‘Tiny Tom: A little wonder’. It is a heart-warming story for kids. I am also co-authoring a book on The Art of Storytelling with Dr. Rajeev Roy (Dean / XLRI – Delhi). By end of this year, I have plans for Solo International Art Shows.
I conduct workshop and sessions for Corporates, B-schools and also for children. While interacting with such a diverse audience, I often get intrigued with certain questions: Is art synonymous to thinking? Can creativity be learnt ?
So many of us confuse creativity with artistic talent. We must understand that art is just one medium of creative expression, whereas, creativity is a whole spectrum. Today We live in a hyper connected, digital-dominant world where disruptive business ideas are shaping the manner in which we engage, interact and create value. And to ride this new era of information paradox and knowledge economy, we need to holistically develop new skills and hone our creative intelligence to maximise possibility to succeed.
I admire personalities and thinkers who are non – conformist, the ones who are disruptive in their approach, and those who dare to ask engaging questions through Art. Cult heroes like Charles Bukowski and Angela carter who adopted a bold approach in their representation. I admire Rene Magritte surrealist satires and Henry Matisse’s playfulness. Frida kahlo’s unsettling portraits and Andy Warhol’s pop Art to list a few. Dali’s ‘The persistence of memory’ and Picasso’s Guernica are among my favourites.
I think the change occurs with new knowledge and conceptual blending as we evolve. There are different quantum’s of learning that discretely emerge as we navigate in the complex world of art. The learning and this new knowledge transcends us to a different zone that brings a radical shift in the manner we project or represent by adopting new styles. I too have evolved in my journey.
Biography
Tarab started her professional journey with Art in 2013. Most visitors in her Art shows describe her paintings as dramatic and panoramic. She herself describes them as a condensation of her little universe. There is a sense of elemental dynamism in her brush strokes. Her canvases feel like a poetic verse, with tiny rivulets of bright colours creating ripples of interesting esoteric illusions. Emblazoned with mystical creatures and symbols, the stories in the paintings suggest the presence of occult mystic symbols. They emphasise the exploration of the magical power of the unknown, and at the same time, lends a feel of enchantment. Her Art can be described as a seductive blend of fantasy and imagination. Booming in a mystic realm, she paints on canvas and illustrates on paper with visible ink.
Constantly changing facets of life propelled her interest in the duality of human existence. She felt intrigued by the repressed dark side of humans and began to seek beyond the pyramids of life & contours of death. There is a certain disquieting focus in her Art that lends depth and rigour. Some paintings are haunting as if a spiritual tornado arrived & left the passage, while leaving its traces behind. At times deeply involved & at other times completely detached, there is an undertone of melancholy. Some paintings are dark & explosive, like a tightly coiled energy that explodes at the epicentre and cascades, lending a visual intensity and rhythm on the canvas.
Tarab holds a masters degree in Economics. She is also a published Author with Bloomsbury. Two new books are coming up soon. She has been invited as a speaker and as a collaborator to various social initiatives and a panelist to many forums, Art and literary events. She takes sessions & workshops for B-Schools students and business executives from large multinationals on topics like Creativity, Visual Thinking and The Art of Story Telling. She lives in Hyderabad.
Tarab khan, was born on 6th December, 1983. She spent her early days in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. At a tender age of six, her family relocated to a coastal town, Berhampur, in Odisha. Growing up by the sea, she was a visitor to the quaint shores & spent her evenings musing & ‘whatiffing’ playfully. Chasing the moon and admiring the cosmic tapestry that hangs over the night sky, imbibed in her a sense of curiosity. She indulged in riveting exploration with her little colour box. Her little self-took a delight in reading stories and fables of the faraway lands. Movements enthralled her & soon the cascading clouds; the mystical creatures & exotic lands began entering her canvases.