The dazzling diversity of India’s art traditions has made some of the most significant contributions to the world of art in a global context. Art serves as an important bridge between cultures, amply showcased in the present-day street art traditions of Pondicherry in South India and New Delhi’s Lodhi Colony, which have attracted artists from home and abroad.
From sculpture to painting—India’s masterly hold in these fields has been beautifully illustrated by the ancient frescoes of the Ajanta and Ellora caves and the iconic, superbly rendered sculptures of Khajuraho.
Artists’ retreats are an important platform to keep the inspirational juices flowing, offering a dynamic space to meet other artists. These retreats also provide a private space where they can pursue their craft—be it murals, sculptures, or installations—in a protected and congenial environment conducive to unleashing one’s creative spirit.
For onlookers, these artists’ retreats offer a wonderful space to delve into the unique world of diverse artists and encounter another perception of things in our everyday world. Think contemporary artist Paresh Maity and his unique installations created with everyday kitchen utensils, temple bells, and the like. One of India’s most celebrated contemporary artists, Maity—famed for his paintings, drawings, films, installations, ceramics, and monumental sculptures—recently showcased a unique installation inspired by a staircase, which caused him to reinterpret his career as an artist.
One of the artists whose presence is amply felt at Art Ichol-Maihar—a two-hour drive from the temple town of Khajuraho—is Maity. A tranquil, spacious artists’ retreat, Art Ichol is a wonderful space for creating, sharing, and promoting the creative arts. Maity’s humongous sculpture, standing at an impressive 34 feet in height, 20 feet in length, and eight feet in breadth, is located amidst the verdant expanses of Art Ichol’s sculpture garden. Installed here in 2019, it took 10 tonnes of steel and almost a year and a half to complete.
The five-acre sprawl of the Art Ichol Centre, located in the little village of Ichol (near Maihar) on the Khajuraho-Bandhavgarh Highway, is a fantastic multi-arts complex, complete with a gallery, a bronze foundry, stone and wood carving workshops, and a ceramic and pottery center.
Art Ichol is the brainchild of Ambica Beri, a longtime Kolkata-based gallerist who relocated to Maihar, where her husband’s family has ancestral property and business interests. Her vision and deep dedication to making this exceptional space for artists to connect and be inspired have created a win-win situation all around!
Maihar, for those not in the know, is a small town in Madhya Pradesh and the spiritual site of the Maa Sharda Shaktipeeth. It is also the karmabhoomi of Hindustani classical music proponent Ustad Allauddin Khan, the court musician for the Maharaja of Maihar. The Ustad, also known as ‘Baba,’ was the founder of the Maihar Gharana and the mentor of sitar doyen Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Art Ichol is a commune where resident artists, craft enthusiasts, talented artisans, writers, photographers, and other creative individuals come together to collaborate and conceive concepts under open skies amidst serene, verdant spaces. The art retreat attracts international artists as well, drawn from different parts of the globe, who enjoy the opportunity to engage with the local community and promote the sharing and exchange of skills and traditions.
The Ichol Art Centre is beloved for its creative vibe and expansive environs. The sculpture park features the works of some of the best names in the country, while the reimagined interiors artistically showcase scrap and recycled material. The Art Residences here are ideal for unleashing the creative spirit in the convivial bonhomie created by such events. What makes it even more appealing is the availability of on-site accommodation, allowing visitors to stay undisturbed. Special spots have been designated for painting, sculpture, bronze casting, pottery, and ceramic work.
It gives Ambica great satisfaction that Art Ichol has turned out to be such a great success with the creative community. It is an important component underpinning her vision of Art Ichol as a cultural reservoir for all creative fields—where legacies can be left behind and where people will be remembered for the creative work they did here for generations to come. Sharing this space with friends, colleagues, and patrons has been her biggest blessing. She is immensely keen for even more people to benefit from this very special space she has created for the creative arts.
The Maihar Heritage Home, lovingly restored by Ambica, is a lovely place to spend a couple of days soaking up the amazing atmospherics of this truly unique artists’ retreat.