BySukant Deepak

November 9, 2021 (IANSlife) Believing that multiple art forms, especially music and cinema constantly affect his work, painter Paresh Maity, who from an early age has been inspired from folk, tribal and miniature art says that ever since he can remember, classical music has always had a deep impact on him. “This is despite the fact that I did not grow up in surroundings seeped with music. Cinema, through its very shades and thematic layers too, continues to inspire me,” says Maity.

This recipient of the Padma Shri honour, one of the best known names in contemporary Indian art, whose works will be shown in two exhibitions -- ‘Noise of Many Waters’ (November 12-December 11) at CIMA Gallery, Kolkata and ‘CAST’ that opens on November 13 at Birla Academy of Art & Culture (presented by Gallery Art Exposure along with Birla Academy of Art & Culture) says that the former chronicles his long journey into the world with water colours. “So, nearly 45 to 50 years of my water colour collection would be on view at CIMA gallery besides two major films and one installation with water. The next day, at Birla, there will be an Installation exhibition. Most people know me as a painter, but I started my journey with sculpting, doing clay modelling at the age of seven. By the age of nine, I was also doing water colours.”

Talk to him about his journey of moving from landscapes to representation of the human form, and the artist, who lived in Kolkata till 1989 recalls that his work was dominant with landscapes till he was there. In 1990, he came to Delhi to hold an exhibition, and finally ended up enrolling for graduation at the Delhi College of Art. “But when I travelled to Rajasthan, I was struck not just by a very different landscape as compared to Bengal, but also the features of the people there -- the colors, their attire. This had a profound effect on my work and slowly figures started appearing in my landscapes. However, in a very short time, from 1990 to 1991, my paintings slowly moved into the figurative. Also, Europe was a huge inspiration, when I travelled to London and Paris. When I went to the Picasso Museum and saw his art, his straight strong line compositions had a deep effect on me.”

Maity, who does not come from a family background of the artists, says that despite no exposure to the arts at home, the moment he saw artisans making idols, everything changed for him. “ I was very young, but that very instant I knew that creating was my true calling.”

The artist, who works in different mediums says that the art decides the medium not him. “The same holds true for the subject. I do not look for it -- it finds me.”

Stressing that he enjoys working in every medium, and does not really have a favourite one, Maity adds, “Whenever I am trying to do something multidimensional, sculpture or films, work well. Watercolour is for landscape. For figurative work, I pick up the canvas and employ strong colours.”

Any conversation with Maity cannot be complete without ‘A Portrait of the Artist in the World’ -- in which photographer Nemai Ghosh documents the artist’s present-day life and of Maity revisiting places from his past. All the pictures are in black & white and shot on film. “ I am also into photography in a big way and love the tonal gradation and the artistic expressions that emerge in black & white. Ghosh is a well-known photographer and we made pictures across the country and the globe. Even Photoshop has not been used. I shun all kinds of artificiality.”

(This article is website exclusive and cannot be reproduced without the permission of IANSlife)

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in