For someone who’s known to amalgamate the tradition and style of his home city — Jodhpur — with his fashion designs, the idea of following through on a similar note for an upcoming Commonwealth art exhibition has had designer Raghavendra Rathore enthused, but this time it’s not with fashion.
The designer will present his exhibit, a canvas work The Calling at an initiative bringing together artists from Commonwealth countries ahead of the Games. And Rathore, who has previously only followed his passion for art privately is happy to show the work for the event.
“I found the concept to show it interesting. The idea was to bring in the old-world heritage and culture — something I deeply support keenly. The inspiration reflects on our past,” he explains.
Not many know that Rathore first showed an installation art work in New York in the ’90s that he admits, “showed me the pathway”. Talking about his present move to go ‘public’ for a cause, he says, “I did not know much about the gallery as I’m not looking to do big shows and am already booked for a year and happy with my small group of associates who evince an interest in my art works as soon as they’re done.”
So, is his art calling influenced by his love for fashion? “Actually I think art and fashion don’t have a ‘connect’. People often make the mistake that creativity binds them, but creativity is like sugar. For instance, you can cook or bake a cake out of it. It is the audience or customer that links both forms.”
So is he happier as an artist or fashion designer? “I’m a happier artist any day,” he says. “For now, let the Games begin! It’s a time for introspection for us all, as we are directly or indirectly responsible for putting visionless people here in the first place.”
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