'Space',Fabric Assemblage,
9" x 1
Natural Pigments on Paper, Bikaner sweets, 23 X 16 cms
When I met Mahaveer Swami for the first time, fifteen years ago, I was impressed by the delicacy of
his colours and the sense of drawing that followed the classical tradition of Mughal Art.
During my annual courses of several weeks, we first worked on painting techniques, much as a pianist
practices his scales. After several years our aesthetic collaboration resulted in two exhibitions in Paris,
where Mahaveer Swami is considered a traditional Indian artist. Today my work has evolved into a
more personal approach. Now, I am concentrating on composition; colours; repetition.
I envision my work as “a variation on a given theme”. With the series of lemons, vegetables, trees and
cakes, I am aiming to create an obsessive repetition of subjects. The choice of the Bikaner pastries
theme allowed me to construct a composition in the space of colour: a diamond, a square, a cube, a
crystal, a circle etc. What is important for me is that this composition creates a balance between
natural colours of Mughal tradition and the sensation of matter and texture (silver, sugar, salt, crystal,
paper etc).
Each composition must be able to respond to all the others and thus create a satisfactory ensemble.
It is as if I am dancing round a theme and creating waves. For example, the beauty of Bikaner’s
stonewalls presents a marvellous subject – colours, matter, form, and space. When I see them, I feel
completely serene. Why? Because they have been done with the sensitivity of artisans, they can be
seen in miniatures. Their form is perfect to the eye.
I hope Mahaveer and I shall continue this journey - crossing the occidental and oriental vision, which
led us from Europe to the East and West of India.