Delving into the mind of an artist

Delving into the mind of an artist

Join art curator Chaitya Dhanvi Shah and Padma Shri
awardee artist Shyam Sharma’s chats
over chai through a new book…

A painting portrays different pictures for different sets of eyes. And for the artist, this very difference could
be an inspiration turned into art. Understanding this inspiration that can be the foundation of a work of art, the process of creat- ing the artwork, and the outcome, have been at the heart of the var- ied conversations between multi- awarded artist Shyam Sharma and curator Chaitya Dhanvi Shah. And it is these very conversations that have been captured in the book “The Fine Art of Fine Arts – Shyam Sharma in conversation with Chaitya Dhanvi Shah.”
The book offers excerpts from

these closed-door conversations between an artist and a curator, a relationship that has been seldom brought before art connoisseurs or readers. The conversations in this book show intriguing glimpses of the artist’s life. Every word encap- sulates details such that the reader is drawn into the conversations.
When home & art meld For instance, in chapter 1.3, “Life is better with family-the
Sharmas”, while reading the story of Sharma’s personal life, you sud- denly realise you are part of the scene. The detailed explanation about Sharma’s personal life-his love for the family, his support to his children’s dreams, especially the daughters who were adamant about taking up fine arts as a pro- fession and his wife’s words when Sharma received his first award in Calcutta… they instantly tran- scend you to the evening when
Sharma and Shah were involved in the conversation over cups of chai.
An artist of international repute, Shyam Sharma was born in 1941 and
learnt art under the tutelage of his maternal grandfather before getting a diploma in from the Lucknow Art College. Over a period of time, he worked with various mediums and travelled globally to study art in the detail.
He has been awarded the Padma Shri, the International Print Biennial- Netherlands and National Award (Lalit Kala Academy) among others.
The importance of perspective
When discussing religion, culture, and the several deities Indian soci- ety encompasses, in chapter 2.1 “Dharamo Dhaante Jagat- Religion to Me”, Sharma tells Shah, “In our world, unlike the West, culture grew along with Dharam and spiritualism. Samaj ka gehna hai Sanskriti aur Sanskriti ka gehna hai fine arts.

The foundation or roots of our culture are deeply rooted in religion. Which makes us stand apart from the West.” These words offer us, the art lovers and readers, a glimmer of understanding about the artist’s psyche.
Interestingly, Sharma has asserted that artists must change their perspectives when working on a canvas. For instance, when painting Gandhi, Sharma focused on finding the “inner Gandhi” than just the outward persona. “What is important to understand is Gandhi Darshan. The reasons behind people’s respect for him even today. It is important to know how is Gandhi still alive today. We must paint keeping in mind his ideologies, or else we will only paint an outer Gandhi and forget the “Inner Gandhi”,” says Sharma.
In chapter 7.3 ‘Soch- Mentoring the Artist in Making” he adds, “MF Husain taught us that even a lantern, a shoe, and an umbrella could be a subject of painting. Husain gave us new symbols. This is the perspective one should develop.”