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ShareLaxman Shreshtha speaks to Francis H D'Sa about 'settling down'
I can easily do these kind of paintings," boasts a fresher from the local art college at Lakshman Shreshtha's latest show in Mumbai. "But will I sell as well?" It has taken Shreshtha about 45 years to get where he is now. The student may have to wait a while.
When Adi H Jehangir of Jehangir Art Gallery asked Shreshtha to inaugurate the 'new' Hirji Jehangir Gallery -- the old Gallery Chemould, now a 1,150 sq ft space --with a solo show, life came full circle for the artist. At Chemould, Shreshtha participated in a group inaugural show in 1963.
Kekoo Gandhy reminisces, "Laxman in those days was the typical artist from Bandra, imported from Nepal. I met him at Bandra Bandstand rocks in the 1960s and he told me 'One day I'm going to make it big'."
"I talked to Kekoo and he gave me his consent to go ahead and do this show," says Shreshtha. "For me, it balances things out. It is a tribute to Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy."
The large oils have been lent by collectors from India and abroad. Shreshtha's style of abstract expressionism needs no introduction, with flamboyant brush strokes and control of colour, mass and texture. Blurred demarcations add fullness and depth to his canvasses. The mountains of his youth lie suspended in space.
But like a true abstractionist, Shreshtha prefers not to have definitions for his art. It took him years to reach this level of comfort, after experiments with various genres, techniques and isms. "I have kind of settled down now after years of restlessness and after reading the Upanishads, which gave me clarity of mind and direction," he says.
"After painting huge canvases (25- 30 ft), I tire; so to relax, I paint smaller watercolours -- these are refreshing and relaxing." Some of these works mingle with about 25 larger ones. The colours are vivid, abstract, showing glimpses of the impact that Gaitonde has had on Shreshtha. There are also five black and white 'tear paper montages' pieced together on archival paper in mid-sizes, supported by pencil scribbles and blurs and imprints of textures jostling for prominence. Done in 2008, these are for Shreshtha perhaps among his best 'different' work.
His masterstrokes import memories of his childhood to the land that he has adopted. For Lakshman Shreshtha, life is waiting to be discovered. A new canvas beckons.
Hirji Jehangir art gallery, till July 15
