Art of Animesh Roy: Paintings 2015

Portrait of An Artist

What is Art and who is an Artist?

As a child these questions and answers would come and go in my head... It appeared from my surrounding that art or painting in particular is paint on a surface which depicts something which has an endearing quality... unlike in a photograph.
And one who was capable of creating this imagery was an artist. An artist to me was a magician... for he could create anything with his hand... images which looked startlingly familiar!!
Elders in the family would discus art and painting... they always mentioned artist had special talent... a gift you are born with... no amount of schooling, teaching would make you an artist. My father being a teacher would keep recounting that once while filling in for one of his colleague who was an art teacher... he sat with students during an art class...and once in while he would have to address their complain that so and so was copying from so-and so etc!! My father found it hilarious and explained that art can not be 'copied'... it is not a formula like in Chemistry, Mathematics.. or some answers form pages of History!! It is an aptitude, a skill... even to copy one would need loads of talent to do so!!
And I had it from the day I became aware of myself...
Though still very young I could draw and elders would be amazed at my skill.... In school(s) I always had a special privilege and was dotted by all... as I could paint and draw.. I was an asset. I could draw out a huge reproduction of a fish or cockroach for our biology teacher... before she took class or draw a complicated map or diagram for other teachers and subjects!! I could decorate notice boards and win art competition for my school. Having an elder brother many a time my teachers and classmates would not believe that I had painted it myself... "You didn't do that!! Your brother must have done it?" I could understand why my brother was needed for such a simple thing as drawing!! For me he could do which I would not dare to copy... putting my hand in electrical meter box and repair them... he had talent for all things scientific!!
In different schools that I went... I would quickly establish my importance due to this particular gift...
Everyone loved me... and my weak concentration in Chemistry and Mathematics was not punished!!
As a child it was my ability to create life like impressions of real image that drew all applause and awards... While others would struggle to get the pencil to draw a circle right... my painted apple would look temptingly juicy and real... just by a flick of my wrist!!
Then I went to art college...
There was an entrance exam for selection to this elite group!!
I was excited to be among the best and thought now on would be part of an art fraternity.... alas!!

Then came the realisation... the end of innocence... coming of age!!

Once in the art college I realised the ones who were there were not necessarily had any skill or aptitude for art or interest!!
Many had tried many things before and at last decide to try art as a profession!!

They were there for the money and glamour... Many girl students were there as they could get good husband and boys were there to get into the advertising world etc.

to be continued....

MF Husain Is Dead... Today?!!

MF Husain died today... but for some he was never there...



MF Husain
Photo courtesy of © Pankaj Sharma

 Many years back MF Husain, was seen uncomfortably moving around our Art College¹ office courtyard... And our 'art professors' were seen peeping through their 'office' windows... it was our break time. I was sitting on the grassy lawns of our campus with some of my friends. It looked so uncomfortably stupid... here was this Art College in the heart of nation's capital, and in here had come an iconic artist...( I don't know the reason why). And no one was brave enough to go upto him, talk to him etc. During our lunch break all of us would be setting on the lawns, on the courtyard steps or in the canteen. We all watched this iconic artist strolling around uncomfortably... not knowing what to do.. maybe he was waiting for his appointment with some one..or he may had come to meet the principal or something...

As I watched this lanky man amble around.. and all eyes watching him in awe... I decided with my friends to go over to him and invite him to sit with us on the lawns.. I went upto him, and he agreed and came and sat with our group of about 4 friends!! I still remember the peeping art professors turning red!!

By the way our art teachers made sure never to invite any of the 'real artists' from the outside world, ever to interact with the students for fear of their stature getting more dwarfed than from their already pygmy sizes!!

We all sat down and treated him as one of our friends.. he had no airs and spoke as one of us.. we asked if he would have tea and he readily agreed!! I ran towards our canteen... and reaching the counter hollered:
"Kamal (he was our canteen owner and chef!! who could rustle up lovely tea, samosa, bread pakora, rice, dal, kardhi...) make tea... 5 cups! Jaldi!!" and Kamal with a dour face replied:
"No milk!!"
I shouted "Kamal we have MF Husain.. please!!"
Kamal hearing this got equally excited and enthusiastically replied:
"No problem!! We'll make black tea.. Husain Saab loves black tea!!"

So we rushed back with our black tea and had tea with MF Husain!!

Of course I become more unpopular with my college staff... and had to struggle through my stay there for 4 long years²...



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*MF Husain died today (9 June 2011)?!

But for some he was never there.. so the heading of my essay reads — 'MF Husain Is Dead... Today?!!' (2011-06-09) This blog was written when I heard the news of Husain's death last summer. Indian Art Collectors (a well know art website) was kind enough to publish it then. The extraordinarily beautiful portrait of MF Husain was taken by Pankaj Sharma, also an alumni of Delhi Art College. He has kindly agreed to let me publish it here.
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¹Delhi Art College, New Delhi, India

²1986-90