Gajendra Kumar Padhi is currently HOD of Applied Art and Design at the BK College of Art and Crafts, Bhubaneswar. After having obtained a Master degree in Visual Art, he had joined this college in 1991. He has organised innumerable painting camps across the country like SZECC, All India Painter Camp, Madras, All Orissa Artist Camp, Bhawanipatna, All Orissa Artist Camp by GDDMA, Brahmapur, All Orissa Artist Camp, Bhubaneswar on the occasion of golden jubilee year of Independence, culminating in a prestigious group show at Rabindra Bhawan Gallery, New Delhi and All India Invited Group Exhibitions at Mumbai Art Gallery, Mumbai. He has left his indelible imprint at the Solo Exhibition at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Solo Exhibition at Nehru Centre Gallery, Mumbai, and East Zone Painter Workshop, Patna. He had the unique privilege of having conducted memorable workshops with Prof Joerg Winde of Dourtmund University of Germany.
No wonder, awards and accolades, honours and encomiums have come showering upon Padhi. He is also a filmmaker with a difference. Inspiring short films like “Warrior’s War Within” and “Jibanara Juara” were conceived, produced, directed, screen-played and acted by him, which won 25 international film festival laurels. He has proved his mettle as a best State-level pistol shooter on many occasions.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Padhi spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at his Bhubaneswar residence.
What are your other areas of interest besides being a painter and a sculptor?
Being a visual artist, I have been doing paintings, sculptures and installations in different mediums. Apart from my art practices, I have lots of interest in the fields of acting, film direction, singing and writing lyrics for Hindi and Odia music albums as well. Also, I have a keen interest in sports. I have pursued my part-time hobby as a 10-meter air pistol shooter and have achieved many laurels.
What are your contributions to the field of painting?
I have done different series of paintings and exhibited those in various solo and group exhibitions in different part of India. Among the solo exhibitions, “BAKRATUNDA” at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 2002, and “BIGHNARAJ” at Nehru Centre, Mumbai, 2005 were prominent. In these exhibitions, my main theme was Lord Ganesha and I have experimented with Odishan tribal motifs in my paintings, which were highly appreciated by art lovers and critics. A couple of my portrait paintings are displayed in the Odisha Secretariat and different prestigious hotels of Odisha.
Could you tell about your success stories in the realms of sculpture and statue making?
Sculpting has been my first love from my childhood. I have inherited this form of art from my untrained grandmother, who was making Lord Ganesha and Maa Saraswati from clay during my schooldays which we used to worship at our home. Interestingly, the first raw process of metal casting, i.e., lead, I learnt from my grandmother while she was making the idols from mud clay to lead casting. When I joined college for my higher studies in the Khallikote Govt. Art College, I learnt a lot from my beloved teacher and renowned sculptor Late Bipra Charan Mohanty. I understand that every eminent personality who is not alive but manifested with an exemplary character in view of his/her noteworthy contribution in respective field, the sculptor needs to catch the essence of his/her contribution and reflect the same through the statue of said personality. Many of my students, who are into statue making, have utilised my expertise and created beautiful bronze statues of eminent personalities which are situated in different parts of Odisha.
Do you sincerely adhere to the grammar of painting or sculpture or you have your own freedom by making a departure from it?
I personally consider that there should not be any boundary to any creative field. Adhering to the principles of grammar, one is in chains. Adopting the same thought process, I have experimented with many new series in painting and sculpture and have used Odisha’s tribal motifs in the creative paintings, free hand drawing on palm leaf, stone with fiberglass in sculptures, etc.
What’s your academic preoccupation in the department of Applied Art & Design?
My journey as a teacher has been engaging with the students from batch to batch and year after year. I have always tried to bring newness into the study curriculum apart from fixed syllabus. I consider my Applied Art department exhibition “KALPANA an imagination” among the final year students, to create placement opportunity for the students by the local heads of advertising agencies, animation and visual effects houses and designing industries. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to software company “Cognizant” for its campus placement drive in our college. Students of Applied Art department are placed in renowned global ad agencies like JWT, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, National Tiles Ltd. etc., from creative designer to vice-president posts. I shall be glad to mention that students of the department have showcased their skills in apparel design using Odisha’s handloom in the fashion shows on public platform like Ekamra Haat.
What are your moves for achieving still more excellence in your creative endeavour?
Every moment of life is a learning time for a creative person. Ups and downs of life and our surrounding situation provide us new thoughts and ideas. I have written, produced and directed a silent short film on Covid pandemic titled “Warriors War Within”, which has won 25 laurels including 10 awards, 4 finalist and 1 semi-finalist and official selections. Also, another short film, “The Ebb & Flow of Life”, by me has won 5 International awards during the pandemic. Another film “Nabarassa” is in progress, which is to be exhibited in different international competitions soon.
What would be your message for the future generation of painters, sculptors and artists at large of this country?
My message is very simple and clear for all practising artists, “Practice makes one perfect”. I wish young and budding artists should not get lost with occasional recognitions. They should continue with their dreams and perspire to do so. The world of creativity is a never-ending world. A sense of subjective look would take one to good heights.