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Creating symbols of `shakti'

ON DISPLAY: A work of art by Sohan Qadri

He revels in abstract tantrik symbols. And now Copenhagen-based master abstractionist Sohan Qadri's recent works can be seen by art lovers at Kumar Gallery in Delhi's good old Sundar Nagar. Titled "The Living Center", the 12-day exhibition opened on Tuesday.

Sohan Qadri, who joined the group of early abstractionists in 1963, has remained true to his direction all along, revealing his spirit and soul through his works. Qadri's works reflect an intense personal journey, enhanced and inspired by the depths of his own painterly inner realm.

Artist, poet and tantrik teacher all rolled into one, the septuagenarian abstractionist loves to create symbols, which to him mean energy. In fact, the essence of his paintings is "shakti" or energy. With no formal training in art, he makes his own colours and prefers to work on paper. The most challenging thing in Qadri's art is its technique. His works are to be seen back to front. He lets the colour to percolate through the thick hand-made paper he paints on, allowing forms to develop on the other side that he then textures by tearing and blending the surface. They represent an alternative harmony of form and texture.

Over the years, Qadri's work has gone through a form of distillation. Colour has become light and lines the residue of textures. And the interplay of these reflects the complex compositional structure of his art. It is non-figurative, different and has maturity. "Among Indian abstractionists, Sohan Qadri has an important place. He not only uses signs reminiscent of tantrik and ritual symbolism, his colours appear to resonate with the theories of colours and their psychological effect based on the principles of an aesthetic of moods or rasas," says Sunit Kumar Jain of Kumar Gallery. -- Madhur Tankha

-- Madhur Tankha

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