<div>Seventy eight-year-old Mohinder Puri, popularly known as M K Puri in the art circle, has had a long history of solo art shows beginning 1968. Specialising in figurative works, the Delhi-based artist recently represented India with two of his paintings at the ‘China Hangzhou G20 International Art Exchange Exhibition’ at Hangzhou Qianjiang International Art Museum of China in Hangzhou City. In an interaction with Metrolife, Puri tells Jayashree Narayanan about his artistic journey, his inspiration and more. Excerpts:<br /><br /><div>Tell us about your artistic journey. <br />My first one man show was in 1968 in Delhi, and since then I have not looked back. Over the years, my works have been exhibited at Havana Biennale, Cuba and Mexico, 1985; Myanmar and Yugoslavia, 2005; also in Bosnia and Korea, 2010 ; Triennale India 1996, Paris 1983 and 1984 and several other international exhibitions and shows of contemporary Indian art. The last big show was in 2010 at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre. <br /><br /></div><div>How did the chance to showcase at G20 exhibition come by?<br />In the second Beijing Biennale 2005 symposium, I represented Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and spoke on Indian art. I submitted images of my work for international art exhibition held alongside Beijing Olympics 2008, and it got selected. Beijing Olympic gold medal and Olympic Torch were gifted to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Artists who participated at the Olympics formed an international art group called OFAA — Olympic Fine Art Association — now registered in Finland, of which, I am a member. The last OFAA group art exhibition was held in January this year in Guwahati. My work was also selected at the fifth Beijing Biennale. Hence, my works were exhibited in China. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being in the international circuit, and also a senior practicing artist, I was selected to represent Indian section of G20 International show. It was a proud moment. <br /><br /></div><div>Can you describe your works?<br />Both my works have meditation as the subject. I am a figurative painter and use human figures as a tool of expression. The works, therefore, have deviated from realism and certain amount of abstraction has been interplayed in the works.<br /><br /></div><div>What was your inspiration behind the works?<br />I am inspired by Indian spiritual beliefs, and also the Indian way of using line as an important factor, which shows in the two artworks. I wanted to represent India as a land of peace and spiritual beliefs.<br /><br /></div><div>After all these years, how do you keep feeding your imagination?<br />Creating work is a continuous process and part of an artist’s food. The world around and life itself is always a feeding ground. I do not paint to create some kind of a project. It is through a continuously and regularly created work, that ideas emerge and lend itself to a distinct body of work in flavour and expression. <br /><br />What’s next?<br />Currently, I have evolved a simple technique — scribbling lines to construct an image. It is very exciting to enjoy the end product. Visual art is meant to be seen, perceived and enjoyed. </div></div>
<div>Seventy eight-year-old Mohinder Puri, popularly known as M K Puri in the art circle, has had a long history of solo art shows beginning 1968. Specialising in figurative works, the Delhi-based artist recently represented India with two of his paintings at the ‘China Hangzhou G20 International Art Exchange Exhibition’ at Hangzhou Qianjiang International Art Museum of China in Hangzhou City. In an interaction with Metrolife, Puri tells Jayashree Narayanan about his artistic journey, his inspiration and more. Excerpts:<br /><br /><div>Tell us about your artistic journey. <br />My first one man show was in 1968 in Delhi, and since then I have not looked back. Over the years, my works have been exhibited at Havana Biennale, Cuba and Mexico, 1985; Myanmar and Yugoslavia, 2005; also in Bosnia and Korea, 2010 ; Triennale India 1996, Paris 1983 and 1984 and several other international exhibitions and shows of contemporary Indian art. The last big show was in 2010 at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre. <br /><br /></div><div>How did the chance to showcase at G20 exhibition come by?<br />In the second Beijing Biennale 2005 symposium, I represented Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and spoke on Indian art. I submitted images of my work for international art exhibition held alongside Beijing Olympics 2008, and it got selected. Beijing Olympic gold medal and Olympic Torch were gifted to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Artists who participated at the Olympics formed an international art group called OFAA — Olympic Fine Art Association — now registered in Finland, of which, I am a member. The last OFAA group art exhibition was held in January this year in Guwahati. My work was also selected at the fifth Beijing Biennale. Hence, my works were exhibited in China. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being in the international circuit, and also a senior practicing artist, I was selected to represent Indian section of G20 International show. It was a proud moment. <br /><br /></div><div>Can you describe your works?<br />Both my works have meditation as the subject. I am a figurative painter and use human figures as a tool of expression. The works, therefore, have deviated from realism and certain amount of abstraction has been interplayed in the works.<br /><br /></div><div>What was your inspiration behind the works?<br />I am inspired by Indian spiritual beliefs, and also the Indian way of using line as an important factor, which shows in the two artworks. I wanted to represent India as a land of peace and spiritual beliefs.<br /><br /></div><div>After all these years, how do you keep feeding your imagination?<br />Creating work is a continuous process and part of an artist’s food. The world around and life itself is always a feeding ground. I do not paint to create some kind of a project. It is through a continuously and regularly created work, that ideas emerge and lend itself to a distinct body of work in flavour and expression. <br /><br />What’s next?<br />Currently, I have evolved a simple technique — scribbling lines to construct an image. It is very exciting to enjoy the end product. Visual art is meant to be seen, perceived and enjoyed. </div></div>
