Gandhi & Art and Other Essays

Book excerpt: In the Vishnudharmottara Purana, when Vajra asks about the art of sculpting deities, Markandeya responds that understanding sculpture first requires knowledge of painting. When Vajra seeks the rules of painting, Markandeya further explains that painting itself cannot be understood without knowledge of dance. To grasp choreography, one must first comprehend music, and true understanding of music is only possible through mastery of singing. This interdependence of art, the insight into the essence of art, is not only attractive but also worth deploring especially when over-specialization is the norm of our age. The essays in this book are a reflection of that ideal, seeking to explore and touch even a small part of this artistic interdependence.