Artist Bharat Thakur, through Prayag, attempts to show the interaction between the dark and the light of a being. By Ayushi Sharma
What will it be like to integrate modern physiological research and ancient wisdom of the sages?
Artist Bharat Thakur’s paintings are a visual manifestation of what it is to delve deep into the mind and soul of man to cull into the dark recesses revealing what is yet unknown.
He explains what the exhibition’s title, Prayag: The Inner Journey, signifies, “The place where the Kumbh Mela is going to happen in a few days is a confluence of many things — the common man and the mystics, spirituality and the reality of our material lives, of prayer, effort and surrender — which come together. The rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are real as well as internal. It’s the coming together of our inner and outer worlds. It is also the point of dawn, where the dark is met with light, when we take our shahi snan or immersion. Hence, Prayag seemed an appropriate title.”
The artist describes his paintings as some of his “dark works” as they are mostly inspired by what he has experienced around him.
The exhibition showcases three series of work — self portraits, portraits of babas, and sculptures.
He explains why babas or hermits are his main themes, “The subject can be said to be an exploration of the dark by light. The theme of the Naga babas is inspired by the many years that I had spent in the mountains with them. I consider them as a part of me.”
He feels that the viewers should be open. “The subject and the aesthetics should attract and hold the viewers’ gaze and let them talk to them. However, I am aware that the self portraits might raise questions and cause people to react.”
He explains why the artworks “depict extremes,” as they are a “fine balance of aesthetics versus content. There is something called a ‘peak experience.’ No matter what the emotions are, whether pain or bliss, we experience them closely only when they’re at their peak. We are used to suppressing certain aspects of our psyche. Usually, what is called the darker side is referred to as such because it is hidden. I have given it the attention it requires.”
He believes that everyone should try experiencing the dark side quietly within as it heals genuinely. He says, “This is the principle of the healing science — to experience without suppression. Once we do this, the pain disappears. I would like these works to be seen as an attempt to show the interaction of the dark with the light of our being.”
He tells us that he prefers working with different media like “oil, acrylic, pastels and water colours because they help me stay fresh. I find pleasure working with the intricacies and potentials of each medium and enjoy watching how each of it brings out a different dimension and appeal.”
He believes that with the growing age of information and accessible resources, art has evolved to a great extent. “My eyes mostly rest on the works of the masters. Art, as you know, is always contemporary to its time, but at the same time it is always about the works of our masters. Time and genres seem to be a device to separate the best from the ordinary. Art is gaining a genuine appeal amongst the common folk who never considered it to be their thing earlier. It has got to do a lot with the age of information. Art is simply more accessible now,” says he.
So how does an artist’s trademark work comes alive? “The fact it is his signature.” He believes that if the artist can be completely honest, and manage to occupy the work completely, “I think it will be as unique as he or she is. The authenticity I think has been the signature of the legends. For instance, painters like Paul Cezanne, whose works were not appreciated in his lifetime, are practically patron saints of art today.”
He talks about two of his most striking works in the series — Lungs without air, and The Element Water. The former signifies that the most beautiful moments — cathartic, painful, fearful, blissful and ecstatic — are all breathless. It’s not like that one doesn’t breathe, but breath ceases spontaneously at some “peak moments,” which is called the Kevala Kumbhak. The painting shows a man screaming as his hands are tied with heavy iron chains.
On the other hand, the latter applies on how water has a role in everything. It’s the elixir of life. Water is one of the five elements of creation. The painting, showcasing the image of a man whose mouth is shut with a rope and is in the water with fishes all around his side, can also be seen as a personification of water.
So what are his greatest inspirations? He says that he has always lived his life to the fullest and has had new experiences. However, he believes, “Developing real and honest intimacies is also important. It’s not enough to just expose yourself, but also to immerse yourself in a grain of things.”
He adds, “My inspirations are my wife, Bhumika, an artist’s journey, the Naga babas, and the science of tantra, yantra. Above all, it’s the training that I received in the mountains. It will be meaningless if I don’t contribute my bit to the art and science of healing, towards improving the human condition.”
(The show is on display till January 10 at Visual Art Gallery, IHC.)