Mumbai's Tao Art Gallery is currently hosting a solo showcase by New Delhi-based visual artist Neeraj Goswami. Developed as a collaboration with New Delhi's Sanchit Art Gallery, which represents Neeraj both in India and abroad, the exhibition brings together a collection of his most recent works—along with a few paintings that date as far back as 2013, that depict similar themes of mysticism, strong geometric form, and dissipated colour.
Spiritual Connection to Art
Neeraj's spiritual connection to his art is evident not only in his stylistic choices but also in the overall impression the works are able to create—the colours are rich, soothing, and the technique is what he calls “spontaneous.” “They all have very different rhythms,” Neeraj says of his paintings. “The more you see them, the more they engross you. [I'm using] so many shades, but it doesn't feel chaotic.”
Neeraj treats his paints in a rather unique manner. He doesn't paint with a brush, but rather applies the colour and spreads it out with a thin metal plate. He paints on canvas treated with pumice gel and thick paint so that it looks hard. “If it has a texture, or tactile quality, it looks alive to me. This is my own way of evolving the work.”
Meditations on Canvas
整个主题的展览和Neeraj”说s work, is mysticism. Plainly, he says, “These are all meditations on canvas. While working, I connect with the inner consciousness, the essence of my being. The mind is just a spectator.” He doesn't ever start painting with a final image in mind, but rather allows himself the opportunity to paint freely. Still, there are very strong, identifiable themes—both of form and content—that are embodied in his work. First, there is the use of the distinct geometric shapes to define the human form, interspersed with the occasional deeply realistic detail—a shaded brow, for example, or a muscular collarbone. These are tendrils of his past work, a lot of which dealt with the human anatomy. Then of course, there is the content of his paintings—many of his subjects are in deeply meditative states, either praying, dancing, or playing music. They are, effectively, paintings that depict his process.
