Artistic talents that span three generations

AJMER: Saying that artistic streak runs in this family won't be an exaggeration. Centred on the theme 'love for brush and colors' a unique art exhibition, in which three generations of family are showcasing their artworks, is attracting art lovers of the city.
Artists Haimabati Gue, Ashok Hazra and Dipika Hazra and Madhabi Hazra Gopalan are all carrying forward the legacy that began with Bhabani Charan Gue.
The exhibition displays formal, wooden and scrap art. "My husband's love for art inspired me and now I, too, have learnt to express myself through the brush," said Haimabati Gue (90), wife of B C Gue.
"When I realized so many members of the family were artists I just thought why not showcase it all together?" says Haimabati.
The exhibition has portraits, oil painting, wash painting and natural painting. "The pots and coasters painting of medieval time is the main attraction. Many painting of gods are also on display. Lord Vishnu has been painted in Nathdwara style. "What I loved in the exhibition is the fusion of different art schools which facilitate the artists express themselves better," said a arts student.
Haimabati Gue was born in Katwa of West Bengal and loved to see her husband B C Gue labouring away in the studio. "Inspired by him I took up reading, knitting, embroidery and leather and craft painting," says a nostalgic Haimabati.
Gue was a renowned artist of Bengal in the early 1900s who later joined Mayo College as an art and craft teacher in 1938 and went on to become the head of the department. He showcased his talent in different countries of the world. Gue's second generation Ashok Hazra has had 11 solo and 7 joint exhibitions at the national level. His paintings are a permanent collection of NCERT and AIFACS. His wife Dipika also has a definite leaning to art and her work is the permanent collection of Rashtrapati Bhavan, in state gallery of Rajasthan, Jaipur. She dedicated her life to art and painting and for several years taught at the Mayo Collage Girls' School.
Madhabi, third generation of the family, staying true to the tradition, has won several national and international medals and is working on color art. The youngest member of the family Keshav is working in an MNC but he too cannot keep himself away from the brush and his paintings, too, have been displayed in the exhibition.
Though the city of Ajmer does not have a well-developed art culture but still people are displaying a lot of interest in it, "The natural painting is awe-inspiring but what is unique is the combination of colors used," said a spectator.