A preview of paintings by Siraj Saxena was recently held at the Time and Space art gallery. The show titled Rejoicing in the visual has musical themes that the artists dreamed of and later transferred into reality. A symphony of memories, celestial light and disappearing spirals makes his art romantic and drawing from spiritual sustenance, it’s a fantasy of sorts with dialogues between the form and the formless.
More than the work on canvas with acrylic and oil, it was the paintings on handmade paper with vibrant self–colours — some with combinations of ocher, browns, jade, green and yellow — and details of construction that caught the guests’ attention.
“To enter my world, the viewer’s vision has to perceive a series of experiences that range from birth to the journey of life. The best way to appreciate this art is to see it as a play without a stage,” says Siraj who was born in Mhow and now lives in Delhi.
With 64 group and 10 solo shows over a span of the 10 years he has been in the art scene, this young prolific artist’s paintings have been associated to a fragrance in art.
His father, an engineer was initially disappointed that he did not follow that profession, but is now very proud of Siraj’s achievements.
Raza, Hussain and Akhilesh, he says, were his inspiration and mentors. “Initially, I had no knowledge and very little experience on the subject, but over 10 years I have developed a knowledge and a connection and in another 10 years, I will mature further,” he asserts.
As a child, Siraj was inclined to abstracts and never signed on his works as he felt his style was a signature in itself. Siraj who has done miniature paintings as well says buyers should not just relate to it as an investment, instead should form a relationship with the work.
During a short introduction of the artist to the guests, connoisseurs of art described how abstracts are always mysterious and that one has to enter the artist’s mind to figure out the meaning. They explained that an artist initially will begin with one form and could end up doing something completely different as he goes along.
“The market plays an important role and young artists should be recognised. Today, collectors have more exposure and awareness. The textural quality of the paper enhances the layering and abstraction is the truth behind art,” said a guest.
Among the guests was Ravi who found luminous, playful compositions in the art work, while artist Milind Nayak, who has also ventured into abstracts, found it stimulating. Veena Bhat and Veena Sajnani thought it was different and refreshing to the eye while Renu George said the paintings were laidback, aesthetic and decorative.
The exhibition of paintings is on till July 26 at the art gallery on Lavelle Road.
