Santa Clara University, Tuesdays, July 1 and 8
Course Abstract
Did you know that Indians were using perspective in painting in the 5th-6th centuries CE, or that the earliest known mandala, Sri Yantra, originated in India in 10,000-11,000 BCE? Also, the geometry of Sri Yantra is so complex that modern mathematicians wonder how ancient Indians conceived this. Ancient Indian art techniques have been recorded and spread worldwide along with Buddhism and Jainism. Invaders to India brought their own cultural ideas, but these were always absorbed into the cultural fabric of India. However, the coming of the British was different. Patronage from Indian rulers stopped, and artists were forced to adopt European and Western art to please their new benefactors. Indian artists learned new skills, but the European markets still demanded Indian art and design as well, like mandalas, paisley (Raw Mango), block prints, and jewelry-making techniques like diamond drilling and gemstone engraving. There were also some Indian artists who rejected European sensibilities and drew purpose from their own heritage to unite the viewer with the divine beyond material, economic, and social concerns. Though they rejected the British, they were still influenced by Japanese, cubist, and other European art movements. In this course, we will time travel from ancient art to Colonial to modern Indian Art to study these eras’ masterpieces and learn about the rich evolving culture that influenced the world.
Sujata Tibrewala is an artist and educator. Her work speaks to the intersection of East and West, womanhood, body positivity, science, and social consciousness. She draws parallels between artistic traditions across continents, emphasizing the shared human experiences that unite us all. One of her core missions as an artist is to bring Indian-origin art into the American mainstream via her practice as an artist and the work she does in art education. She is the continuing education chair and a docent of the San Jose Art Museum, founding president of the Indian American Artists’ Association, and a docent of the Brooks Museum in Memphis. She was born and raised in India, studied engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, and had a successful career as a network engineer in Bangalore and Silicon Valley. Through art, she aims to foster harmony, creativity, and growth in our world, believing that when we nurture the creative spirit, we can create a more balanced and inclusive future for all. This is her first course for OLLI@SCU.