Pankaja JK (J.K.) in conversation with Prabhakar Kolte (P.K.)
'Art news & views' magazine's initiative to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of Wassily Kandinsky's manifesto 'Concerning Spiritual in
Art' is a blissful delight. Taking this opportunity I had the pleasure
to meet and interview the contemporary Abstract Art artist and icon,
Shri. Prabhakar Kolte. He is lovingly known as 'Kolte Sir' by artists
and his students. Though I have read lot of literature written about him
as a maestro of Abstract Art, an excellent teacher and a
philanthropist, I had lot of apprehension before starting the interview.
To my own surprise, his warm gesture, understanding and patience made
me so comfortable that interview turned out to be an informal affair and
I got to know more about Art of expression and about Kolte Sir in the
session. Here is the excerpt of the interview:
J.K.: Good evening Sir. Sir, 'Art News n Views' is celebrating 100th
anniversary of Wassily Kandinsky's 'Concerning Spiritual in Art', I
would like to know your views about Wassily Kadinsky and what he really
meant by 'Concerning Spiritual in Art'. Did he mean to project
spiritualism?
P. K.: It's a welcoming gesture on part of 'Art News n views' to pay
respect to this great Abstract Art pioneer by celebrating 100th
anniversary of his book. Many people have mistaken the title. It is not
about spirituality, but about a dual effect that one has after seeing an
abstract painting, one is the physical form and another which is very
essence of art and that is the effect of colours that provoke inner
resonance or emotional stir and vibrancy of soul. This is the spiritual
effect and not the physical state of spirituality. Taking the essence of
that which is material and natural and depicting them in subtle way and
with the use of colours. His art was a revival in the field of
painting. His paintings tap all the sensory organs. It is an
amalgamation of light and colours. It is the external light that travels
within and multiplies in various colours. His greatness lies in the
breaking away from conventional art. He created autonomous status for
paintings. Independence from any conventional bonds is Abstract and it
is all because of Kandinsky.
J.K.: What must have prompted Kandinsky to discover this form of Art?
P. K.: Every age and generation have their own reasons to invent and
develop new style in every field be it way of living, technology, food,
shelter or art. Kandinsky moved away from 'decorative' creations to
'abstraction'. Landscapes and portraits were projected only in the
suggestive style because like his fellow countrymen he too was fed up of
the political, social and religious turmoil in the society. It was a
break away from conventional art and a conscious move towards
abstraction. It was not just physical representation of a thing or a
figure. The paintings had a language that spoke more than volumes. It
was s self realization. This aspect of self realization is very
important in Abstract Art otherwise the creation remains just a splash
of colours and figures without any expressions.
J.K.: Do you find difference between Indian Abstract Art and foreign counterparts?
P.K.: I find a major difference in both. I feel Western Art gives more
importance to the process of making a painting. It moves from the
surface to the core of a subject. Indian Abstraction shows a totally
opposite nature, where in the movement is from core to the surface of
the subject, and interestingly, this surface is not the known surface
but it is the consciousness.
J.K.: Sir, abstract art has come a long way from being painted on
paper and canvas. It is expressed in installations and with the help of
digital techniques. Do you approve this?
P. K.: I am very happy with this progress. It is the sign of growth and
development. Of course development is not new thing or a wonder. Right
from the time human being started exploring art he has expressed it with
the resources that were available at that particular time. From
painting on stones, wall paintings, paper, canvas and so on we have
reached a stage where the idea can be put in reality within a few
minutes with the use of technology. It saves the time and efforts and
gives an opportunity to explore more possibilities of enhancing your
art. I welcome this change, this advancement. Progress and understanding
goes hand in hand. World changes when man change and adopting change is
a sign of progress. The precaution should be taken not to fiddle with
the basic motive of painting/ art and that is the sublime joy that it
imparts to art lover.
J.K.: Sir, do you think physical global journey is compulsory to develop our knowledge?
P.
K.: I would rather say that interaction with your surrounding and
people of various cultures provide lot of knowledge and understanding.
Physical mobility is a good idea. If you think that you are not getting
enough of what you are looking for and sure to find it somewhere else,
go for it. Yes you can go and get it, but boosting on your stay at a
particular place is a mediocre attitude. Whatever knowledge you gain
should speak through your work and not just in your bio data. Your
attitude should be that of artistic maturation and not career centered.
Your global experiences should be felt through art, being exhibitionist,
boosting your stay is too bad. Let people have the curiosity to know
from where you acquired the knowledge. Reading, any and every type of
literature from any part of the world is as good as physically traveling
to the places. It is not your global physical presence that matters; it
is you yourself being global in mind and soul which is important.
J.K.: Sir, you have boldly faced hard time and now enjoying good
phase of your life. Do you remember any anecdote that you found ironic
to your life's experiences?
J.K.: Yes I do remember this incident which happened after I was
established and famous. It was a time when I was not worried about
having money to buy canvas or colours; it was a time when I was fully
involved in my artistic maturation. A person approached me and offered
me a lump sum amount in a brief case. In an ordering tone, of course in
lowered tone he commanded me to paint a particular size canvas with
something in red. I coldly looked at the person and gently denied the
proposal. I had never compromised on my art or never painted according
to whims of anybody even when I was badly in need of money for the
painting material and this person was trying to 'buy' me and my
principles. It was totally against my principles and situation, I would
say that it was like….“When in need I had not, now I need not”… I shared
this experience with my dear friend Ganesh Haloi and we had a hearty
laugh at the irony of the situation.
J.K.: Sir, your paintings are unique, I hope you reveal the secret of your art to your fans.
P. K.: It is surely my inner voice that guides me to paint. I observe
almost everything that comes in front of me. Some things touch my soul
but I do not pose them directly in my painting. I do not believe in
observing and then painting, I rather like to first paint and then
observe and feel its effect. This gives me immense satisfaction of
creation and adjoins significance to my painting. My painting is
Something out of Nothing but Not of Something.
P. K.: (elated) O Sure! We share same vibes. He (Ganesh) is such a great
person. He is a great artist, a philanthropist and one of the best
teachers of the world. I have high regards for him. We have been friends
since long and still we continue to share our life's experiences and
enjoy every moment of it. Even though we are nestled in different and
far away states that has not hampered our friendship at all. There are
people like Ganesh who have been my well wishers and I owe them a lot.
These include my drawing teacher in school Joshi Sir, Gaytonde whose
life and paintings have always inspired me, loving Palshikar sir and a
few people who are not at all related to art world and yet proved to be
my inspiration throughout life.
J.K.: You are known as poet- painter. I would like to conclude the interview with your poem that reflects 'Kolte'.
P. K.: We may be here or not be here, we may be remembered or our
memories might be wiped out, why should then its proof be collected?
Always hold as many hands, look into others' eyes passionately. There is
variation in language (of hope?) but hope is intoxicating, wherever I
stumble only a painting may lie before me. Live and die living behind
deep principle, considering that there will never be a second life to do
it.
No comments:
Post a Comment