Manoj Kachangal’s paintings are about his resentment towards the present political system. He spoke to Iknoor Kaur
When Manoj Kachangal got a television in his house over a decade and a half back, he decided he wanted to become an actor. However, destiny had other plans. Today he is a multiple award-winning artist, who has presented over 20 solo exhibitions. He also featured in a book and documentary based on his art, which was called Doors of Perception, art of Manoj Kachangal.
He will be displaying his latest collection of paintings, An Innocent Relation, at the Visual Arts Gallery in India Habitat Centre from August 2 to 7.
Manoj in his late teens travelled from Shadhora to lucknow to get admission in an acting academy. After four months of struggle he eventually got into a theatre group and soon after moved to Bhopal to complete high school.
Without any certificates in Math, he got rejected from all schools and did theatre in Bhopal, again. After school, Manoj was forced to opt for Fine Arts instead of Math. Disappointed with where his life was heading, he thought the Film and Television Institute of India was his last resort. Quite to his dismay, the course for acting from the institute was soon removed. It was then that Manoj met renowned artist Syed Haider Raza and approached him with his amateur paintings. Raza told him, “Why only one, paint some more my son.” It encouraged him to take art seriously. At present, Manoj boasts of winning the Raza award.
He shared, “Art gives me a sense of empowerment. I vent out all the frustration and anger from within on the canvas. My recent exhibition is about showing how much our society has depreciated. With increasing rape cases and terrorist activities, I have tried to put down my thoughts on our society. I have completed most of the paintings with my fingers and I haven’t used the brush at all.”
An Innocent Relation is about the situation of our country at present and it depicts fading values and etiquette among people. Topics like Uttarakhand floods and terrorism are the main focus of the exhibition. Manoj said, “The society is slowly moving towards the nadir and it is shameful. People need to realise that what they are doing is ruthless. The paintings convey a message to them.”
He continued, “I feel a painting should reflect the mind of the painter. I can’t come up with a landscape depicting the scenic beauty. I am connected to society and its issues and it is my duty to present them.”
A year ago Manoj displayed an exhibition on terrorism. “People thought I was trying to create a controversy but I was presenting the truth.”
Manoj will be doing another exhibition, Fury of Colours, based on Kabir’s life. He feels that Kabir was a realistic saint and was one of those who could confront the society, which according to him matches his temperament.