‘Nothing in the realm of art is deliberate’

Paresh Maity is a towering figure in the contemporary Indian art scene. He is especially adept with water colours, his medium of choice in the early years of his career, and he later became known for his large and vibrant oils on canvas, and more recently for his installation and sculptural creations. Was this a natural progression or a deliberate move? “Nothing in the realm of art can be deliberate. It was very spontaneous and my work has evolved with time and space. I grew up in rural Bengal and was surrounded by green fields, open skies, ever-changing clouds, stars and water, and that explains why nature and skies are such an important part of my work. Then I started travelling to other parts of the country and interacted with the surroundings, and that’s when figurative started featuring in my works. My imagination has always been flowing and I have never stuck to any medium for too long,” he says. 

Beyond Horizons, his latest exhibition will bring together, for the very first time in Chennai, a selected compilation of works by Paresh, showcasing drawings, paintings and sculptures created through four decades of his prolific art practice. “I have always felt that my art is easy to understand and relate to. I see, observe and absorb. This reflects in my works. Over the years, I have tried painting people and surroundings in a simpler way,” he puts forth. The subject matter, as seen in his works up to the present, moves between the mundane and the esoteric — he is as comfortable working with bronze as he is with layers of paint or the medium of photography.

An interesting element in Paresh’s artworks is the presence of eyes. He shares, “Eyes are the most expressive part of the human body and you can read a person’s personality just from his or her eyes. That is such a fascinating thing for me. I also believe that the Indian eyes are the most beautiful in this world.”

While many artistes have believed in making socio-political statements through their works, Paresh has always leaned more towards aesthetics. His creative spirit yearns to share the joy of creation itself. Has it been a conscious decision to not use his works to make a statement? “I have always focussed more on aesthetics, harmony, ceremony, relationships and love through my work. It is something that I have strongly connected with. Small things in day-to-day life influence me more. When I travel, I talk to people; I react to their surroundings, and pick up on the simplest expressions and situations. I like to present all this in my works. Art should always give you happiness and should portray the glory of life,” he explains. 

For someone, who has been in the art scene for close to forty years, how does he assess the contemporary art scene? “It is dynamic and evolving. Art used to thrive on royal patronage. Now it is surviving on corporate patronage and I’m optimistic that it will only increase with time. Government support is also there. The latter is slow and steady but it is coming along. The younger lot of artists are doing terrific work. Also, there are so many global platforms available for artists now than ever before. I am absolutely optimistic about the future of Indian art,” he finishes.