Art Business News New York, May 2002, Volume 29, Number 5 Page 54 and 56

A Passage to India
America's popular culture represents a cross-sectional hybrid of international influence. Never has the influence of India, the second largest nation in the world, been more obvious in today's culture that in Americans' increasing interest in spiritual and holistic persuasions. Yoga, meditation, teas and henna tattoos are skyrocketing in popularity and have become the standard regalia for the American new age. But in addition to our interest in gurus, goddesses and Ayurveda, art from India is surfacing in American culture as well. High-profile auctions, art galleries devoted to Indian art and museum exhibits showcasing art from India are raising awareness and interest in the artistic contributions of our Asian neighbor ..... The Contemporary .... Speaking from his Manhattan apartment, contemporary indian artist Mohan Samant was once regarded by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 best artists and was honored by Hillary Clinton during her senatorial campaign as the best artist living in Manhattan. His work predominantly sells to Americans, and prices generally range from $3,000 to $9,000. Samant, who was born and trained in Bombay, describes a fairly structured and European influenced style of artistic training in India and a period of training in which he copied Indian miniatures. While this traditional training period gave him important confidence and knowledge in working with color and symbols, he grew tired of the repetitive notion of such painting and began to form his own style. Samant said it wasn't until 1952 that he came into his own style. Influenced by such painters as Paul Klee and Picasso, Samant appreciates inventing one's own form and style and yet having a personality that is completely apart from style. "You can evolve in what you are persistent in creating," said Samant. "There are 25 different ways of painting, and confronting a canvas evolves into a form in 15 different ways. You don't repeat yourself." ....