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Brushing aside the pretensions

Artists Sanat Kar and Madhvi Parekh in a spirited chat

PHOTO: V.V. KRISHNAN

THOSE WERE THE DAYS Sanat Kar and Madhvi Parekh reminisce about the days when watching sunsets was time well spent

He sits amidst his own works in a gallery reminiscing about the times each one was created... and the ones, which couldn't be here for sheer reasons of space and the fact that they are all sold.

The diminutive man has a sonorous, well-modulated voice that mirrors the anguish of the trivialisation of the arts but his own persona has no rancour or bitterness. There is a geniality that is as endearing, as it is charming.

She is shy - reticent almost - which can easily be mistaken for severity but those who know her better, know better. For beneath that lies a very practical and affectionate person who doesn't shy of calling a spade by its original name.

Alka Raghuvanshi snatches a few moments with artists Sanat Kar and Madhvi Parekh as they talk about art, times spent in Kolkata and the journey of art and artists over the years.

Madhvi: It is so wonderful to see so many of your works at one go!

Sanat: There were many more for the Kolkata and Mumbai show! But I miss some of the series that couldn't be here as they are not with me. You'll be surprised that once I got into this peculiar fit of rage in '74 that I started tearing my paintings. A friend, who happened to come by, saw this strange scene and offered to take them away. The next day he arrived with four thela gaaris and took all my works away. There must have been about 400 paintings. He died and that is the last I saw of all those works. The pain still bothers me. Those days no one took pictures - there was no money.

Madhvi: Such a treasure lost! What a pity! And you are so prolific there must have been so many works in that lot! The works then become like your own babies.

Sanat: I've been painting for the last 60 years! This year alone I've done a 100 paintings. But then it is like after I paint, I don't like my work and then I start all over again! But I see a lot of change in your work.

Madhvi: I've changed my medium. I'm doing glass paintings now. But then we've always had a tradition of painting on glass - Mysore glass paintings are famous as is the series by K.G. Subramayam. I really like the change. After all, that is what proves that one is alive.

Sanat: My attempt is also to explore anew all the times. I dislike signature paintings - and the entire concept of continuously repeating yourself. But the essential character and soul is mine. It is that I'm a traveller in the field of visual art. I reach a place, enjoy it and see my dreams there for a while before moving on. And when I see humans, I see so many of these who will leave their dreams unfulfilled.

Madhvi: How beautifully said. When one goes around the world, you can see art everywhere you look. Animals, birds, places... what is needed is only perspective. Like I have grown up in a village, painted on the walls, made rangoli, embroidered, celebrated festivals and observed rituals all of which have found a place in my art. Seen sunsets and trees from close quarters, which one can't even hope to replicate. I think this generation has grown up watching their parents struggle and consequently are that much smarter.

Sanat: This treasure of childhood memories is so valuable. But then times have changed. Remember how Kolkata was so different in the `70s? So was Shantiniketan! But then so was India! While I believe that change is inevitable and comfort is fine, I still feel that we should struggle. I live almost like a recluse in Shantiniketan and a rustic now. But I think there is where the fount of creativity flows.

Madhvi: Dada, you are being too modest! I have such wonderful memories of our times in Kolkata and even Shantiniketan - where one could almost sense Rabindranath's presence in each place. as he was still around.

Sanat: It has changed drastically now. Almost become a town with all its incumbent problems. But still it is home.

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