CATALOG ABHIJIT PATHAK Artist Statement

Born 32 years ago in the north Indian state of Bihar, I was lucky to have spent my early years amidst the rice fields and gentle streams that were my playground, and it was there that my deep bond with nature was forged. My delight in drawing has early roots. From the age of seven my mother would have me adorn our home with religious symbols, which are usually applied with rice paste or a paste made of flour. I was gradually drawn to painting, eventually completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Varanasi. The city known for its temple architecture, art, music, poetry and Tehzeeb (grace). Varanasi played an important role in developing the impressions I carry today. Music and the sounds of my surroundings have been a major influence in my creative process, perceiving, balancing the chaotic and the serene. The meaning is not noticed immediately but discovered and revealed over time. Very akin to the Raga (a melodic framework in Indian classical music) with varying ascending and descending tones and patterns, yet always in harmony. I completed my Masters Degree in Fine Arts from New Delhi, where I was privileged to have as my teacher the well known painter and installation artist Vivan Sundaram. I was also greatly influenced by the interactions and conversations I had in my formative years with the gifted sculptor Himmat Shah. I am indebted to them for vastly broadening my horizons. The shift from Benaras to New Delhi was a turning point for me as an artist. Coming to Delhi, I was brought into contact with a city of 18 million people, a vast urban sprawl bereft of nature. It was deeply disturbing, but it also forced me to radically alter the way I perceived the reality around me.

An abstract expressionist for the past twelve years, I work with different materials, experimenting with varied techniques, defying the convention and developing my own breakthrough style. I use earthy tones, pigments, acrylic colours, fabric, charcoal, and pencils, free from any associations. Rough surfaces, torn pieces of uneven cloth and fabric are a reflection of a specific period of time. Heavy impasto and encrusted surfaces oscillate towards fine bold or tinted drawings that carry my impression of figures and places. The deep lines represent emotions and experiences. A melange of textures and effects, enhance the interplay and deepen the mystery, directing the viewer to gradually discover and perceive over time. My art imitates life, helping me bring spontaneity in my creation with fluidity and dynamism. It is visually global with a tinge of my culture and traditions.

2 ARTWORKS

TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 54 X 13 INCHES YEAR: 2019 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 12 X 10 INCHES YEAR: 2019

4 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 7 X 7 INCHES YEAR: 2019

5 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 14 X 10 INCHES YEAR: 2019

6 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 8 X 6 INCHES YEAR: 2019

7 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 15 X 10 INCHES YEAR: 2019

8 MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 8 X 8 INCHES YEAR: 2019

9 TITLE: UNTITLED TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 10.5 X 13.5 INCHES SIZE: 10.5 X 13.5 INCHES YEAR: 2018 YEAR: 2018

10 TITLE: UNTITLED MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER (TRIPTYCH) SIZE: 5.5 X 7.5 INCHES EACH YEAR: 2018

11 ARTWORK AT A SHOW

TITLE: SYMPHONY 5 MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON TARPAULIN SIZE: 96 X 222 INCHES

12 TITLE: SYMPHONY 8 MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON TARPAULIN SIZE: 96 X 140 INCHES

13 TITLE: SYMPHONY 16 (DIPTYCH) MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON TARPAULIN SIZE: 72 X 96 INCHES

14 TITLE: SYMPHONY 3 SERIES MEDIUM: MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER SIZE: 36 X 48 INCHES YEAR: 2018

15 FAIRS 2010 INDIA ART FAIR 2018 52ND NATIONAL AWARD BY LALIT KALA AKADEMY, NEW DELHI. 6TH BEIJING INTERNATIONAL ART BIENNALE, CHINA 2016. 2009 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, AWARDS GOVT. OF INDIA. 2017 MERIT SCHOLARSHIP, JMI, NEW DELHI. FOURTH ALL INDIA EMAMI CHISEL AWARD, KOLKATA. ALL INDIA EXHIBITIONS OF ARTS, AMRITSAR.

2015 2008 28TH NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 22ND ALL INDIA ART CONTEST AND EXHIBITION NAGPUR. NAGPUR. FIRST PAINTING AWARD BY PRAFULLA DAHANUKAR CAMLIN 8TH NORTHERN REGION ART EXHIBITION, ART FOUNDATION, MUMBAI. (PROFESSIONAL). INTERSTATE FOLK AND MODERN ART EXHIBITION, 2013 ARA, BIHAR. 13TH ALL INDIA ART EXHIBITION, LUCKNOW. SOLO SHOWS 2012 2017 NATIONAL ART EXHIBITION BY ODISHA LALIT KALA AKADEMY. ‘MOSAIC OF MYSTERIES’ SOLO EXHIBITION AT LALIT THE GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA AWARD & MEDAL KALA AKADEMY, NEW DELHI. BY THE BOMBAY ART SOCIETY. 2015 2011 84TH ALL INDIA AWARD IN PAINTING ORGANIZED BY ‘THE EXCAVATION’ GALLERY BEYOND, MUMBAI. AIFAC, NEW DELHI.

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