“Every creation of nature has its own beauty. One needs to look at the world without any prejudice, with clear and transparent vision. If one does so, he would be discovering beauty in anything and everything. With this vision when I see things around and start painting, their presence in the strict physical morphology melts away and finally my canvas is full of ultimate forms with eternal beauty,” says Parag Borse, an upcoming artist from village like Karjat.
When asked a question “What is an art?” he says, there has always been a debate over whether painting is an imitation of ‘nature’ or something beyond nature. I feel painting is an imitation of ‘nature’ as nature itself is beyond any comprehension. What and how one can add something and go beyond the multiplicity of nature which is the result of convergence of time and space. For me, it is important to understand art as a source of pure and complete enjoyment. Any art, as to say in my case, painting, should take an artist beyond any visible , invisible differences; to a completely thoughtless situation i.e. even beyond mind. You mean to say ‘Blankness? “Yes” Blankness. In fact, the sense of “being” must completely get dissolved. Such state of mind and body takes one to the highest level of enjoyment— ECSTASY. Unless blankness is achieved, one can not reach the ultimate TRUTH of life.
Do you want to say that the state of mind affects the moods in paintings? “Exactly” . This is what I am trying to say . If an artist is happy , he will feel that even the object is filled with joy and vice versa. Hence the painting will be reflected either with optimistic or pessimistic moods and not the real form which he wants to reproduce on canvas. For realistic painting, such dwindling moods should be overthrown to attain complete blankness. If all objects are understood in terms of ‘forms’, the resultant perception would be without any pre-conceived conceptions and clichés. To understand the beauty of nature, one needs such perception to reach closer to the truth… . And the truth is beauty lies in everything. Even it is true in case of viewers. If a viewer is an optimist, he will find objects full of positive-ness and vice versa. In this regard, Vincent Vangaugh has given a very good example. He says a sadist will find even an object like chair as old, sad and unhappy.
But then Parag, in your paintings you have painted objects who express emotions. Yes. Of course. But emotions are also forms. There is always a medium through which emotions are expressed by objects. Facial expressions, gestures, sitting positions, etc can be the mediums. I treat them as forms. See, there is a difference between representing emotions expressed by an object and representing an object by applying your own emotions. So if a complete blankness is to be achieved, this distinction can be made where an artist can keep himself completely aloof and view objects. Got the point?
Yes. Very true. It can be said that even culture- rites and rituals are responsible for attaching meanings and values to various objects.
Very correct. In fact, the most confused and misconceived concept is of beauty. The criterion for beauty is distinguishing in different cultures. In India, long hair is the beauty symbol, where in Africa broad lips. Feminine beauty has always been at the core of every art but I feel men are equally beautiful. Unfortunately they are neglected entities.
What is painting then? Just a game of forms!
Hey ! , It is not that simple. To understand painting one needs to understand the concept of ‘space’.
Say for example a canvass is an empty space; selected space. When I draw a line, there is division of space. I draw a line consciously but the resultant division of space is unconsciously done. When one form is taking shape on the canvass there is a simultaneous making of another form. A good artist is, who allows the appearance of simultaneous forms too consciously i.e. he should be able to see both the sides of a line. Before I start painting, I select a frame of natural space and start translating it into imitation what you call it as painting.
Is it only space that matters in painting?
No. I was about to say . It is never space alone. It is always ‘space and time’ together. What I capture is a moment. That moment is a convergence of space and time. Nature is changing. Every next moment, nature is different. The selected patch of nature looks different at different times. Morning, afternoon, evening – all times show a completely different facet of nature. In fact, it continuously keeps on renewing, reorganising itself. The real joy is in capturing that moment as it is ;without any distortions, additions.
With space and time what other elements are important in painting?
As I said earlier that one should always see objects as forms. But then, what these forms are made up of ? What a form is all about? What does it constitute? Any form is basically made up of colour tones, shades. It is important to understand how these tones, shades are produced as a part and parcel of light ,mischievously falling on objects.
You mean to say sunlight.
No. It’s not sunlight. I mean to say that light is basically seeing an object . So even there can be light in nights. Till there is a visibility, the object is there, to be painted. When I start painting, I don’t know whether it is day time, evening or night. These are strokes which emerge organically as objects in the flow of painting. I never sit down and say ok! Now let me paint this tree or a river. Say for example a ball is to be painted. First, I don’t look at it as a ball. I consider it as a form. Secondly, that form is understood by minutely observing the tones, shades it constitutes. Then I start painting those minute observations . In the process, it gets curvature , roundness etc. When viewers see it, they get feeling as if, it is a ball. In a similar way, I go on painting forms. These are again viewers who identify whether a painting is of morning , afternoon or evening light.
Its’ challenging to paint the real without any moderations.
Today, when the trend is more of abstract painting, why do you prefer to do realistic painting ?
See. I don’t want to enter into the debate of what is superior, ‘abstract’ or ‘realistic’. Both the branches have their own positions. But an artist must have freedom of expressing himself. I like realistic work. I am completely spell bound with the wild beauty, unlimited ness of nature.
Who is a good artist according to you?
In the field of art, there can not be any comparison between different expressions of art , as every artist’s work is an oeuvre. No artist is either above or average. His success should be measured by counting the moments of happiness, enjoyment which he cherishes while painting. I feel a good artist is who frees himself from any animosity, competition and antagonism, whose mind is like a new born baby ; innate. You know, that innocence also gets reflected even in his paintings.
Are you inspired from any such artist?
Yes. I can say, “Sargant “. I am a great admirer of his work. He is like a magician. His paintings are made up of simple, easy, innocent but very powerful strokes. The variety of subjects he has expressed in his paintings is amazing.
Should painting be considered as a profession?
I have never considered painting as a profession. I like to paint because that’s my passion. You can not equate it with other professions like medical, engineering, MBA, etc. In fact painting is my passion. I do it for my enjoyment. I am able to live life in a completely new way. My life is intrinsically linked with painting. In fact, there has always been a dialogue between my life and painting. This bondage has been reciprocal in enhancing both, my life as well as painting. At every step, I could see that I was exploring a newer truth of life through painting.
Then, what is the purpose of exhibition?
Ultimately, for leading life, one has to earn money. In earlier times, all kinds of arts were having patronage, support by that times rulers. Today, situation is completely different. If I desire to do something more creative, innovative in realistic painting, I need to have financial support. Exhibition is one of the financial sources through which I can create a good support system for exploring new dimensions in painting.
What is the theme of your of exhibition?
“ as it is : a portrayal of reality” All the paintings exhibited, show life ways intermingled with nature; sometimes completely dissolved in the natural landscape. My effort is to discover life sketches which are raw , rough without any modern, sophisticated interference but still very beautiful, elegant.
So my paintings necessarily exhibit the countryside. Whatever is natural, ought to be without any artistic interference. I have tried to paint nature in the most realistic way i.e. as it is.
I hope that art lovers will certainly appreciate my paintings.