The Wanderlust of Art Writing
Art writer Reema Gehi Desai tells MASH about her upcoming book, Outsider’s Gaze, which chronicles the life and times of German Jew Rudolf von Leyden — a key supporter of the Modern Indian art movement.
Rudolf von Leyden (1908-1983), was one of the pioneers who supported the Progressive Artists Group (PAG) which included F N Souza, S H Raza, M F Husain, K H Ara, Sk Bakre and HA Gade during the 1940 and 50s. Moreover, he wrote about other important artists like Tyeb Mehta, Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar, and Krishen Khanna among others. Known to the art world as Rudi, he began his career as a satirist, cartoonist and then went on to become one of the top critical voices on the Indian art scene.
“The book, Outsider’s Gaze, looks at how a German Jew escaped Hitler and became the kingpin of the modern Indian art world. It is a multi-layered narrative – dipping into various histories from the Second World War to the formation of the Progressive Artists’ Group in 1947 –on one of the men responsible for building the cultural architecture of a newly-independent India,” writes Gehi-Desai.
“This book is a product of extensive, in-depth interviews with Rudi’s family members, friends, artists as well as references from articles, diary notes, and letters, which are archived by his nieces and nephew based in Bonn, Berlin, and Sussex, respectively. I am, currently, in the process of writing the book and finding a suitable publisher for it,” says Gehi Desai. The project is supported by Bodhana Arts Foundation, Pheroza Godrej, and Priyasri Patodia.
Von Leyden was born in 1908, and came to India in 1933 from Germany, two years before the Second World War began. Though a geologist by training, he decided to pursue his talent for art to make ends meet. A chanced opportunity got him a job at the Times of India in 1937 in the paper’s layout department.
Von Leyden has been an important voice in the art world. Cultural theorist and poet Ranjit Hoskote and the late Kekoo Gandhy have both spoken of Von Leyden’s significance in the art world with affection. In fact, it has been documented that Gandhy and Leyden have worked together on promoting the Progressives since Gandhy was a pioneer at Chemould Framers which went on to become Gallery Chemould, now one of the leading contemporary art galleries in Mumbai directed by his daughter Shireen Gandhy.
In 1938, Von Leyden viewed a rather mediocre show of the Bengal School at the Taj Art Gallery, Bombay. He expressed his views about it to the editor, who deemed it fit as a review. With that began Rudi’s journey as an art critic. “Rudi’s discerning views provided perspective to the fledgling Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group. He gave them the much-needed support, encouragement, and constructive feedback,” says Gehi Desai.
The artworld is certainly looking forward to reading Outsider’s Gaze as it will bring von Leyden’s personal life into focus while commenting on his impact on the Indian art world.
Text By Georgina Maddox
Images Courtesy: Reema Gehi Desai
Find out more about the Artists and Gallery:
https://www.saffronart.com/artists/f-n-souza
http://jnaf.org/artist/shireen-gandhy/
https://www.instagram.com/shireengandhy/
https://www.instagram.com/priyasri_patodia/?hl=en
https://www.saffronart.com/artists/krishen-khanna
https://www.saffronart.com/artists/ram-kumar
https://www.saffronart.com/artists/tyeb-mehta
