Education of nature

Artists find rhyme and reason in certain aspects of life or their surroundings and they are rarely the same. That is why, while SH Raza finds his inspiration in dots and artist Seema Kohli finds in in the deep and abstract representations of the ‘Golden Womb.’ But Delhi-based artist DP Sibal chooses to follow the words of Aristotle, “Art takes nature as its model and not only imitates nature but completes its deficiencies.” 

Sibal is an artist who seeks the mysteries and the adventure of experience in nature, showing it in vibrant colours which make his paintings look positive and energetic. In most of his paintings, he endeavours to go one step beyond and explore the unknown dimensions of nature and explore the cosmic harmony, and how it holds everything together in balance. 

“As an artist, I am very concerned with issues of environmental degradation like deforestation and increasing pollution due to the increasing number of cars. During my growing up years, I would keep awake at night to see the illuminating night sky from the terrace of my home. My paintings reflect that emotion and showcase a certain vibrancy of colours and create a cosmic ambience.”

The artist who has been letting his emotions speak through his canvas for the past five years is self-taught. He recalled that he was first moved by the vibrancy of the varied colours that surrounded him. He added, “With time I noticed the degradation to those colours and what was disturbing was that those destructions were made by man. That prompted me to paint.” 

He believes in the philosophy that one eye feels and the other perceives. That is why, he has been exploring various art works around the world. Many of his visits to museums and galleries have inspired him. He explained, “When I visited louvre Museum in Paris, I saw the master piece, Mona lisa. Then in Moulin Rouge, Paris, I witnessed the works of Henri de Toulouse — lautrec, the Foyer. At the Tate Gallery, london, I came across John Hay Witney’s collection of paintings from the early 60s. Those were exceptional experiences.” 

He also added that Napoleon’s White Horse painted by Theodore Gericault was an inspiration for him to paint horses.Music, he said, has always played a great role in his life, “in the context of painting.” While he listens to Indian music at home, he has a special place reserved during his foreign trips. He visits the Royal Festival Hall in london to listen to western classical music and draw inspiration. “I enjoyed it specially when it was conducted by great artistes like Thomas Beecham, Malcolm Sargent or Otto Klemprer, known for conducting Beethoven’s composition of 1812,” he added.The artist has already started working on his new series — The Moon and Beyond, with the aim of showing the vibrancy of the unseen colours of distant places that are unknown and yet draw him to put them on canvas.