Death of an Artist

 

A loss of life in the family breaks all reins loose. Hue and tears all around. Then the mourning period. Ever wondered why we cry so much over death?

Do we cry because that person might now be in hell and suffering? ....or because he was so good that his departure leaves a vacuum in our own lives? Perhaps because he left some of our questions unanswered... Or because he left without letting us fulfill our dues. We wish the person should have lived some more... For whom? For himself or for the world? We mourn not for dead people, but for the loss their death causes to us... for we depended on them whilst they were alive... Because they were a source to our survival, faith, peace, happiness, our purpose. We never cry for the dead. We cry for ourselves - for those who have been left behind. Like an artist fears death of inspiration, like he mourns a creative block.

In sincerity, one would admit that the source of all creation lies beyond our limited self. It is a stream that flows like a divine gift.... like a tool provided to us to serve our purpose. It stays with us until we are working towards its destination. Creativity leaves an artist when its cause is over. Like the soul departs leaving a body dead.

And then the mourning saga begins.... not for what is gone, but for what's left.

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Coming Home....

I Am..... a little anxious.

more afraid of losing a chance

than to fly past the reins that hold me back.

A little disillusioned waiting

for tomorrow to arrive.

It rests in today, maybe.

I Am... on a long trip.

temptations hanging all around

and tightropes I've balanced on

turning paths to prosperity.

When I'm back

I shall hopefully be

Me

with the life of my dreams.

the closer it comes, the farther it seems

like again it's a tale of tomorrow

but tomorrow

rests in today, maybe.


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Goa skies

Me enjoying the sky glare atop a fort wall at Goa. We halted at Fahrenheit Resort, Baga Beach - the same venue that hosted my Live Painting Demonstration and sculptures exhibit as 2012 began.

Anish Kapoor Interview at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai

Every artist in India has grown up curious to discover the mystery behind this globally successful Indian phenomenon - Anish Kapoor. No amount of Googling helps - for he doesn't have a personal webpage nor has this sculpture artist published his story publicly alike lesser mortals around.

Watch this interesting interview by CNBC TV18 from their series 'Beautiful People'. The legend talks about his beliefs, struggles and changed perceptions on Art... all during his first ever public exhibition in India during 2010-2011. Over to Mehboob Studios, Mumbai......

PART - I

PART - II

PART - III

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Mending the Broken Bond

My wife has added yet another book on human psychology to our already flooding library. And this obedient husband forms a willing audience to her treasure-worth of knowledge - every time. Left to myself, I'm ever less likely to scan through 500-odd pages of fine print... so it is preferable any day to gulp a ready dose of summarized information. Who doesn't have fast food these days?

I appreciate a profound point made by the author, Dr.Frank Lawlis in this book - Mending the Broken Bond. He urges us to LISTEN..... "Listen to Understand", he says, don't listen to respond. How true! How often do we find ourselves preparing mental notes on our response.. much before the talker has even finished his second sentence! This habit is particularly dominant in Art... where an artist doesn't listen enough to his world around.... where he doesn't listen enough to his voice within... because he is in a hurry to create, to RESPOND. And so also he finds a befitting species of modern "Art lovers" that aren't willing to hold patience to listen to an artwork before commenting on the guest book.

In the past, I was tempted to place written artist statements next to my sculptures to hold the interest of such an impatient audience. Very often, visitors to an Art Gallery literally jog through its periphery, speeding the most as they near the artist's table. At my Teen Peher exhibit however, my Studio Team discovered a novel way to solve this issue without offending our own curatorial sensibilities. We placed poetry in place of explanations next to the sculptures.... and the confluence worked like magic. With due respect to the lyrical verses, the sculptures were as capable of singing their own beautiful song ...only if one cared enough to stop jogging and listen to them. Although I have been lucky I must say, to have had at least 20 observers come up at my debut exhibition with deeper interpretations of the displayed artworks than I must have known while creating them.

And this is finally what every artist yearns for - that his work should talk... well enough for somebody to Listen. Artists are glad to let others engage and converse with their works... as people who choose to converse with the artist instead, are most often there not to discuss the making of the piece but to brag about their own knowledge of Art.

What we observe at first sight is the initial impact, the attractiveness of an artwork.... but it takes much more than a few glances to interact with it, to understand and to fall in love with the poetry that has gone into making it. 

Flirting doesn't yield Love. Just like in our relationships in life.

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Fine Art LIVE !!! at Cafe del Mar

2012 promises to be a year of fulfillment... The beginning of a new era. Some say, the world will come to an end next December... yet if indeed such a calamity is expected, we should have one more reason to actualize our dreams with a deadline...

So.... Welcome the New Year with Me at : CAFE DEL MAR, Goa !!! Live Demonstration and Exhibition of my Art along with signature Cafe del Mar music & sunsets. Event brought to you by UTOPIA and Fahrenheit Hotels & Resorts. For more details, refer to the event brochure below....

SEE YOU IN 2012 !!! 

 

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Under Pressure at Government Secretariat

And.... How did I forget to put up this one!

 

My monumental marble sculpture titled 'Under Pressure' has been installed at the Government Secretariat campus of Patna (capital of Bihar State, India). 'Under Pressure' was created during Rang Aakar -2 Sculpture Camp organized by Rang Vikalp earlier in March this year. The sculpture was appreciated by Bihar Chief Minister Shri. Nitish Kumar at the inaugural ceremony. It was later exhibited at the Bihar Diwas celebrations at Gandhi Maidan.

View these links for more details on 'Under Pressure' :

Bihar Diwas - Under Pressure

Why they call it Incredible India!

 

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