Amit Ambalal
Insite Magazine
2014
says that “When I plan a painting, I wait and gradually, the game starts. This is a form of leela…”
At a first glance, his works of art look like paintings, done by a child who is lost in this jungle called ‘society’. But in real sense, they represent his ‘lost childhood’ and what he paints, comes from his heart and head, through his hands. This reminds me of a quote, I had read long time back – “He, who works with his hands, is a labourer. He, who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He, who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.”
The informal training given by late Chhaganlal Jadav has given him a different gift – he draws without any inhibitions or set notions. This freedom coupled with his sharpness to catch and reflect human flaws are very well reflected in his paintings. Whether it is
a human figure, an animal or a bird, the child-like narrative comes in a forefront with a deep message, embodied in his painting. Maybe, it is a child’s fixation about what Oscar Wilde had said – “No great artist ever sees things, as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist”. But one thing is for sure that, this man has made a definitive mark on the Indian art scene with his child-like, innocent paintings which has a satirical tone, which many of us miss to observe!
With more than 40 solo and 88 group shows, Amit Ambalal is a name to reckon within the Indian and international artscape and yet, this seventy year old humble-simple mill-owner turned artist, modestly says that “After each show, I always feel that I could have done better and I have something more to learn”… Does this statement ring any bell? Let me repeat, what Michelangelo said, when he was 87 – “I am still learning.” Nothing more to say on this aristocratic artist from Ahmedabad!
Born in 1943 in Ahmedabad, Amit Ambalal is a graduate in Arts, Commerce and Law. While he carried on his family business activities for some years, he was always involved in arts and had his art education under Shri. Chaganial Jadav. Since 1979, he is a full time painter.
amit@acubeinc.net
5-6. Crows: A Journey Back to the Nest, Installation at ATMA in June 2008
7. One of the sculptures from the Rubber Sculpture Show which was held at Husain-Doshi
Gufa in Ahmedabad in Feb 2014
When one sees the art of Amit Ambalal, the satire flowing from his brush becomes vocal and evident. But this is not to laugh at someone or something but to denote the vices, follies and shortcomings of the society, which may include individuals, social fabric, governmental system and so on. But as they say, there is a ‘method in madness’ in what he paints. In his paintings there lies a deep-rooted purpose – constructive social criticism. And while doing so, his brush becomes a tool or weapon to highlight the issues, which need attention. Sometimes, even the child in himself recollects what he saw around with a child-like innocence! Through this brief piece, an attempt is made to depict him and his works
A recent meeting I had with this multi-faceted personality was really an awe-inspiring experience for me. His magnificent home, rare collection of arts and centuries old antique ensemble was more than enough to make me speechless! The gorgeous figure of Garuda from some temple in South India and the beautiful figure of Buraq, an Islamic figure of a winged horse with a face of woman and tale of peacock, juxtaposes the scene and perhaps, portrays the contradiction in the life of this self-taught artist, who has degrees in arts, commerce and law and today, he uses none!
Well, it was frankly very difficult to concentrate on what he was talking, thanks to the distractions being created because of his beautiful home, which is designed by Bernard Kohn and its walls are embellished with paintings by who’s who – M F Husain, Atul Dodiya, Jogen Choudhury, Ravi Varma and many more. (I could not believe that he could fetch a Ravi Varma at merely Rs. 1100 from Bhavnagar!!!)
Anyway, let me go back to the artist, satirist Amit Ambalal… While talking to him, I remembered, what Pablo Picasso has once said “We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realise truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner, whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.” This statement, according to me personifies the work of Amit Ambalal.
While satire normally is related more with literature, his work according to me, is a visual satire, surrounding all of us! His degenerated forms, colours, textures and proportions represent a no- nonsense approach. Many a times, we all must have felt the same but everybody can’t express it the way he does! His paintings are like caricatures, based on a parody or mimicry, which awakens ourselves about what all is happening around us.
At the same time, his devotion and passion for Shrinathji and to Nathdwara School, is simply amazing! His book on Krishna as Shrinathji, brought-out in 1987, followed by an exhibition of Nathdwara paintings from his collection in 1989 stands as a testimony to his
dedication and commitment. It is with this influence of Shrinathji, he always
“After each show, I always feel that I
could have
done better
and I have something
more to learn”
1. ‘Kukkutaasana’ – Gouache on paper, 20.5″ x 29.5″, November 2010
2. Apradhi Kaun (You Be The Judge), a part of the Sermons in Ceramics series, approximate height 11.5″
3. ‘Messenger’, serigraph on paper, from the personal collection of Mr. Kamal Khokhani, 22″ x 29.5″
4. Accordion Book Gouache on paper, 11.5″ x 94.75″
