Dumas Art Festival - 2015 #VRSurat

Dumas Art Fest was organized at our very own VR Surat, on 20th March, 2015. There was press conference where various print media journalists covered the artists and their prolific works. This is an Art Festival  of one of its kind in Surat and we are so glad to have been a part of it.

Aswad Sheikh, born and brought up in Dubai shifted to Mumbai, India four years ago out of his love for art. He says, “You don’t have to go to art, art comes to you”. The typewriter that he bought from Chor Bazaar, Mumbai looked like an alien to him which he artistically placed over metal rods to make it look like a human. The entire idea was inspired from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator.

The red and black cassette player that he got yet again from Chor Bazaar, was artistically adjusted on six legs of metal  to make it look like a six legged  spider.  He says, “Cassette players was the only form of entertainment to which I grew up”. Also, we couldn’t help noticing the innocent eyes that the speakers give a look of. It was as artistic and beyond explanation as it could get.

This radio, our grandparents’ sole source of entertainment when he strategically adjusted to make it look like human, he says, “This looks like a corporate man, going for a white collar job”. It’s a depiction of connection that he felt, when he was working with a corporate firm in Dubai. Also, the open hands are a significance of openness to newer and better interpretations of art and life, as a whole. 

This angel in disguise, which grabbed maximum eye balls at Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, last year; is a hand cart, the life-line of many in Mumbai. We tend to ignore the kind of work the labor class does for making our lives simpler and making their own living. Every morning since 4AM, you see people on the streets of Mumbai pulling carts loaded with goods and hopes. Goods are for us, hopes are of that laborer  whose family waits at the end of the day for him to return with some money. Isn’t the hand cart a real angel?

This happy artist, Hetal Shukla talks about his association with Ambassador cars for almost 10 years. Through his art, he has tried to show the paradox, of how its sad that Ambassador’s production has been stopped since 2014 and on the other hand, it has become vintage. He very nicely quoted, “Zinda haathi lakh ka, mara to sawa laakh ka”. Ambassador cars had its class and now that they are vintage, they will be more valued. With a word play, he wrote “Amby-sad-err”. Well yes, sad paradox.

Rajindra Chavan and Mukesh Mestry from Mumbai created art with a social message of preserving water. The analogy that was created between camel and water tanks was with the purpose of making people realize the importance of water and its storage. The taps and pipelines with holes on the camel depict how humans leave running taps and broken pipes unattended.  If this is the kind of attitude that our generation is going to live with, we are sure the next generation will call water, a myth.

This cube of connection by Shital Mehta, is a portrait of today’s generation and their communication. Technology has brought the world closer and at the same time has created distances among people because they don’t connect to each other while together. Everybody wants to live in the virtual world but really, to be alive, you need to disconnect once in a while from the internet, your phone and meet people for real. Alive is offline.

Sumit Sanjay Patil, the artist of Ek Hota Kau, has touched the chord of Hinduism where people believe that crows are synonymous to salvation (mukti). Each of these crows that we see around are an indication of a lot of problems that the world is facing and its time now, we get mukti from those problems. 

These cubes are analogous to threads of life that most of us fail to connect to. In our very busy and fast lives, we don’t get time to stop and heal and connect and grow.  We are in a mad rush to reach nowhere.

The tree of life is a portrayal of spiritual tradition. The tree of life if nurtured, will grow beyond universe and spiritual apprehensions of truth. A lot of us never realized this but here’s Reha and Nayanjeet’s art talking about it, making it realizable and real.

This techno man, by Varsha Pandit, is a piece of art which says that humans are always struggling to grow, financially and spiritually. Indian youth is very modern, yet rooted to the base. They accept and appreciate technical changes, but not at the cost of their culture and learnings. 

Young minds at Om creations designed this to deliver the significance of education. This mudra also speaks about how Om creations is working for the less active people of the society, the old and the differently abled. We need more such organizations to make this world a better place to live.

The group photo!

Valentine's Day Gifting Guide! #VRSurat

VR Surat, one of the best shopping destination of Surat, symbolizes retail transformation the city is going through... From distinctive and opulent brands to high end street fashion to exclusive food joints... VR Surat is a shoppers haven!

This valentine's pamper your loved ones with utmost luxury and grab some great products at these premium brands… starting right from Forest Essentials to  Body Shop to Clinique to Color Bar. From Swarvoski to Ethos to Cookie Man VR offers you a range of brands to choose from….. go ahead and raid the stores! This day only comes once a year... make your loved one feel special… and spoil them to your heart's content.

Here is a list of some premium brands that offer some great products to make your special day even more memorable -

The Body Shop -

All Body Shop products are created to make one feel absolute best everyday. This Valentine's give yourself and your loved ones the gift of beauty with these amazing products.

Also, some never seen never heard deals are there for offer this valentines -

  • Become a member get 20% off on just about anything in the store.
  • If you buy any 2 fragrances you get 20%off

Do not miss the new bestseller (Redmusk)... its scandal in a bottle! Have we given you enough reasons to go and raid the store?

SWARVOSKI -

Swarvoski adds sparkle to people's everyday lives! Through their mastery of poetry of precision they continue to be the market leader in premium jewellery and consumer products, ranging from decorative objects to lighting and accessories.

Since we all know the soft corner women have for those crystals why not grab this opportunity of showering your love in form of these precious stones. 

ETHOS - 

A swiss watch hub!

One of india's largest retailer for luxury watches. Discover from their range of brands like Rado, Omega, Longines, Tag Heuer, Fossil, Swatch etc .. and do not miss the tempting deal of upto 40% discount on some selected pieces that they have on offer.

Cookie Man -

Fresh baked Australian cookies! Made with the finest ingredients and baked to perfection. 

This valentines surprise your loved one with some freshly baked cookies and we have some incredible deals to help you please your love interest -

  • Buy a large tin and get 10 chocolate cookies free
  • Buy a heart shaped tin and get 5 chocolate cookies free
  • On this weekend buy a 1 kg box and get half a kg free.

What are you waiting for?? Go grab a bite of these mouth watering cookies.

Clinique -

Keep an even toned, radiant valentine's by having great skin with these Clinique products.

This Valentine, Clinique allows you to customize your gift boxes which could have just about anything from the store! So go ahead and pick from a range of fragrances, makeup and skin care products.

FOREST ESSENTIALS -

This valentine Forest Essentials welcomes you to a world where ancient wisdom is infused with a modern aesthetic whose foundation is laid in ayurveda. Celebrate an aromatic valentine with their free gifts ranging from 800 to 2500 with every purchase.

Chumbak -

Chumbak is making news wherever it goes... have a look at its fancy themed merchandise like funky t-shirts, fridge magnets, mugs, cushions, mobile covers etc.

To make your gifting a little more exciting they have some really fancy mugs and books based on pyaar vyaar! They have pyaar vyaar badges/buttons too. 

COLORBAR -

PujaKedia_VRValentineDay-21.jpg

A bar filled with colors to beautify you and make you look glamorous…. make this valentine glamorous for your loved one by gifting them a range of products of the color bar counter..  the full make up kit that they offer is sure to bring a smile on your love interest's face :)

Go check these options out!

And have an awesome Valentine's Day!

 

The #LifeInSurat Blog.

Words By Rhea Patel    l    Photos By Surbhi Dawer