Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot physically see with his eyes… Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an explosion into unknown areas.
–Arshile Gorky
The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.
-Lucian Freud
When the drizzle intensified as we (with Tribhuvan Deo) returned from Sajal Patra’s solo show at Bikaner House, we decided to visit Triveni Kala Sangam and see the exhibitions. The evening of July 31st. We jumped out of the auto rickshaw and arrived to Shridharni Art Gallery, with the only purpose of passing the time. So the rain stops and we can travel to Mandi House Metro Station without getting soaked. Without a doubt, Shridharni Gallery is regarded as Delhi’s premier art gallery, hosting a variety of high-quality exhibitions. Still, we have to feel a little upset when an exhibition there does not meet our expectations. However, a much better exhibition than imagined awaited us. However, this was the last day of the exhibition, which meant it would conclude in a few hours.
As soon as we reached the gate, we were drawn to a pretty huge canvas on the gallery’s front wall. Tejinder Kanda, a senior artist, displayed his work in the show titled “In-Within”. Coincidence or misfortune, despite the fact that Tejinder is a well-known name in Delhi’s art community, this was my first introduction to his work. Tejinder’s works are simply categorised as abstract. However, whereas some abstract artists use geometric shapes to compose their canvases, Sometimes texture can also play a part. Tejinder, on the other hand, is radically different, relying on powerful brush strokes that move over the canvas. Bold patches overlapping each other, which may look easy to see but it is not so easy when creating a painting.
Those who understand the behavior of colors are also aware that other hues are created by combining primary colors such as red, blue, and yellow. The colors that result from combining these three colors are known as secondary colors. However, when it comes to putting these colors to canvas, it is difficult to develop the talent and understanding of color combinations required to mix these secondary colors and create a new color from them. Art students are frequently urged to be cautious while mixing secondary hues to avoid muddy effects. To demonstrate this, take orange and green colors from a color plate and mix them together; you will notice that the color in front of you is completely muddy or unclean. since you are doing this for the first time, you will undoubtedly wonder why, since green and orange are such lovely colors, their mutual combination is so horrible.
You may wonder why you would explain the nature of colors and tints while discussing an art display. So, if you are unaware with the nature of colors, assessing the artist’s skill becomes difficult, if not impossible. It took him decades to achieve this. Looking at these artworks, one notices another challenge: the use of acrylic paint as a medium. Acrylic paints tend to dry faster than oil paintings. In such a case, when you apply a thick layer to your canvas, you must be aware of the difference in results between applying the second layer on the dried layer and applying it on the wet layer. A lot of experience is your sole option for comprehension and comparison of these results. Despite all of artificial intelligence’s influence in different aspects of our lives, the only way to determine its impact on your artwork is via personal experience. Obviously, this is an experience that can only be achieved after years of struggling or enthusiastically playing and enjoying with colors, lines and forms.
To be honest, those were the moments when I became lost in the seamless dance of brush strokes and the atmosphere of hues. Where your gaze travels from one corner or section of the canvas to another. If you have a habit of viewing a work of art through the lens of a story, narrative, or saga, you will definitely be dissatisfied. However, if you can get away from all of this and absorb the colors and the sense of beauty that results, Tejinder Kanda’s works of art can provide you with a lot of freshness. Not only that, but they can entangle you in their web of beauty to the point where your mind refuses to leave it for weeks or months.
-Suman Kumar Singh