Interview by Mr. Jose Punnamparambil, Editor, Meine Welt, Zeitschrift des Deutsch-Indischen Dialogs, December 2006

1. You are a young Indian artist living in Germany. How did you come to Germany? What was the purpose of your coming?

In 1994 – 1998, I have studied Painting and Graphics at the College of fine arts Kerala, University of Kerala, Trivandrum. It was the only fine arts college in Kerala for graduation in fine arts. Only 13 people get admission for painting every year.

From the beginning itself I was fascinated by western art. I developed my drawing skill; Apart from Painting I have acquired many techniques like lithography, etching, woodcut etc. Our Library was the only Media for us, to get to know about Western Art. Our Library is a treasure for Fine arts students. Sometimes we met even western scholars in our Library. Through books I learnt about “Renaissance”, “Impressionism”, and “Expressionism”. When I started to learn about the modern art, I saw some similarity in my work with “German Expressionism”. The “German Expressionism” was a revolution in 20th century art, it gave shape to a radical new style, and it led to a new theory in fine arts. According to my interest I selected “German expressionism” for my final year examination in Kerala and got first rank in painting. I have really decided to do further studies in “German expressionism”, same time I met a German artist Mr Otto Eberhardt. Who studied in 1956 painting and graphics at the State Academy of Karlsruhe (Die staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Karlsruhe) under HAP Grieshaber. It was one of the famous Academies for “German Expressionism”; many German expressionist painters like Erich Heckel were professors in this academy.
I discussed with him about my wish to study in the same Academy. coincidentally he was searching for an artist, who can realize his Mosaic project in his house. He appointed me to realize his project, so that I could study in Germany. This is how I reached Germany. Now I have finished my Diploma with excellent results and doing Master degree in the same Academy.

2. What is the area of your specialisation? Are you painter in the classical sense of the term?

In India I have studied Painting and Graphic and in Germany Painting, Graphic and new Media. Classical style of paintings does not exist in German Academies.
We learn it only as theory. With my experience I developed my style although it has relationship with “German expressionism”. The movement of strokes plays a great role in my works, the rhythmic structure of two colours make the dimensional space on canvas. The brush strokes in each paintings surge in a limited surface of the canvas to create a form.

When I stand in front of a canvas, I just think a while and start to paint. I don’t control the lines, it comes from mind and moves every where on the Canvas. However, because of the fast strokes, the forms have a moving effect in its specific space.
Even if I make mistakes, it creates a rhythm on Canvas. Mostly I don’t make any pre sketch or pre idea about what I want to paint, so that the rhythmic movement with spontaneity develops a magnificent surface on canvas. With experience I can control the lines. It has a lyrical reflection of personal style and philosophy.

I use different types of mediums to express my ideas. Now I am using digital media, even I developed a style in it. In which the viewers could see the development of drawings. In an empty canvas a line creates a portrait or figures or even a painting. Here people can see how an artist paints or how a painting develops.

I can’t say that my work belongs to classical style. It is an individual expression.

3. How would you compare the fine arts scene of India with that of German, Europe?

India is the land which got long tradition in art and emerged with many different cultures. India has produced great art since Indus valley Civilization in the second millennium BC, though the names of great artists of the past remain unknown to us because Indian society has always considered the authorship of art less important than its actual creation. Traditionally art was made for a purpose- for ritual, contemplation or delectation.

Art flourished in India on so many different levels, from the holy temples and the courts of Maharajahs and the Nawabs down to village, tribal and occult circles. The great stone sculptures of early eras, such as Maurya, Kushana and Gupta period, the literary heights of fourth century poet and dramatist Kalidasa, the frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora Caves show the artistic skill of Indian people. The Renaissance Painters like Albrecht Dürer, Mathias Grünewald , Leonardo Da Vinci, Rafael, Michael Angelo Bonarroti. Or impressionists Painters like Monet, Renoir and Cezanne. Or the Post Impressionist painters like Van Gogh, Gauguin. Or sculptors like Bernini, August Roden and Henry Moor. We cannot compare Indian artists with such masters.

During the Renaissance Period in Europe in the sixteenth century, the Moguls brought Persian style to Indian art as Mogul-Rajputh “Miniature paintings”. Still western world knows Indian art as “miniature paintings”, it was so wide spread everywhere in India. There were also schools for styles, for example Rajasthan school, Deccan School, Pahari School and Mogul school. In colonial period, the English education system opened doors to new ideas, scientific, technical democratic, which prepared Indians to seek independent destiny that were shaping modern Europe.

The great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, first Indian Nobel prize winner founded the Visva Bharati University at Shantinikethan in 1917. His nephews Gagnendranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore distinguished themselves as the first modern Indian Artist; it was the beginning of Bengal school. Tagore he himself made paintings in his late period, was founder of first Indian Academy. During the period of “German Expressionism”, Tagore visited Weimar and got funds from Germany. With his request an exhibition of “Bauhaus” artist held in India in the year 1922. The works of Pual Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Lyonel Feininger, and others were shown before a huge public and critic. Amrita Sher Gil (1913-41) went for study painting from Santinikethan to France, was the first famous female painter of the country. The philosophical view of Amrita Sher Gil and Paul Gauguin in Painting were similar. Slowly Indian artists learnt European style of paintings.

Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a painter in oils, the first Indian painter to master the techniques; he learnt it from visiting English artist at the court of Maharaja of Travancore. He depicted scenes from the great epics and other literature.

In 1947 young artists, F. N Souza, M.F. Husain, K.H. Ara, H.A. Gade, S.K. Bakre and S.H. Raza found “the progressive artist group” in Bombay.It was like „die Brücke“ or „die Blaue Reiter“ in the beginning of 20th century in Germany, which lead to “German Expressionism”. They were very radical, and expected ultimate change in Indian art. They made a lot of group exhibitions but after independence, Indian art market was very poor. But western art critics wrote that the “the progressive artist group” has talent and professional attitude. They were well known in Europe. Latter Raza went to Paris, Souza to England.

It was really an opening for Indian artists to go to Europe and find a market there.

In 1960s the artists were aware of western trends and could follow it. Every body wanted to create an “individual style”. The talented students from various Academies in India started to travel abroad for studies.

Gulam Mohammed Sheikh and Vivan Sundaram both studied in London, Royal collage of art.
Avinash Chandra were successfully living in England and showed his works in “Kassel Dokumenta”

M. F. Hussain, after six months of art school studies entered to film set and hoardings in Mumbai. Afterwards he won a prize in the 1947 Bombay Art Society exhibition, was a noted painter. After his first exhibition his amazing success began. 1971 he shared with Picasso “the Sao Paulo Biennale”. He really understands and depicts Indian soul in his paintings. Sathish Gujral, he got many inspirations from Mexico.

The “Neo Expressionist” painters of Europe adopted many elements from third world country.
Francesco Clemente, a modern Italian “Neo Expressionist” Painter spends much of his time in Madras, India and has been inspired by “Hinduism”. In his many paintings we could find the symbols of “Hinduism” and Indian philosophy. Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and Constantin Brancusi added many elements from India in their art.
Due to the enthusiastic search for art, the “German Expressionist” painter Emil Nolde travelled through Russia, China, Japan and Polynesia. In 60s Josef Beuys led a group in Düsseldorf; Düsseldorf was one of the leading Academies in the world at that time.

In 80s the “Neo Expressionist” painters the young wilds, George Baselitz, Markus Lüpertz, Immen Dorff, A. R. Penk, Anselm Kiefer etc. They are the successful artist in this group in Germany.

4. How do the Germany, Europeans, respond to your art? Do they find the "Indianness" in your works as something "exotic" or as something "extra" which enhances their quality?

The first time when anything enters to Europe, they find it as “exotic”. But after the long observation, if they notice the extra ordinary talent and elements, they accept it and appreciate it as something “outstanding”.
For the last exhibition in the Karlsruhe Artist Fair (16. Karlsruhe Künstler Messe), for my Digital Video work I got special critic from the jury.
As a young artist from India, the German people are observing my developments.
The numbers of visitors and collectors are increasing every exhibition. They found some thing new in my work; I understand it when they select me for the different Exhibitions.

5. What place has India's modern art in Germany's art world? Can you name a couple of contemporary Indian artists whose works are well-known in Germany?

Every country has its own art. They always preserve or support the art of their own country. If something comes from outside, it must be very outstanding, especially from the third world countries. The development of art of every country has its own root of traditions. After “globalization” the technical and infra-structural development of the world, the revolution of information technology made the art world very transparent. People could see and watch, and collect the paintings, even participate in different contemporary exhibitions all over the world.

India’s modern art has a great role in modern art market. I suppose that the next revolution in art field could be in India.
There are number of Indian artist who are famous in Germany and in Europe. Ram Kumar, Laxman Pai, Somnath Hore, Ganesh Pyne, Akbar Padamsee, Tyeb Mehta, V.Viswanadhan, K.G. Subramanyan, Bhupen Khakhar, Jogen Chowdhury, Manjit Bawa, Laxman Goud, N.N Rimzon are some of the famous Indian painters. Tagore is also famous in Germany as a painter.
M.F. Hussain has won the “Golden Bear Award” for Film in Berlin and has shown his paintings in seventies with Picasso. Last year his name was written in several European art magazines because of the price value of his works.

6. What are your future plans? Do you want to set up a studio here and work as a free-lance artist?

I am the first Indian, one who studied at State Academy of Fine arts, Karlsruhe. I am living in Germany since 2001.I have acquired modern techniques in Paintings, Graphics and Digital- Video Art. I would like to share my experience and knowledge with the new generation.

As a painter, it’s a dream to set up a studio. Now I have a plan to participate in Biennale in Germany and other European countries. For that it’s better if I could set up a studio in Europe.

7. How would you sum up your experience as an Indian artist living in the western world?

In India we study fine arts, we acquire qualification but after that it is very hard to set up a studio. And it is very difficult to get a financial support. Lack of fellowships could also affect the artistic development of an artist. But it might change when Indian economy would progress.
In Europe it is completely different. In every corner, they are preserving art; they are spending a sum of amount of their income for art. Every town they have their own cultural centre and exhibition halls. People are engaging themselves with art. They are visiting exhibitions; they are buying and collecting the art work. This is the secret of European cultural development. They are expecting always innovation, something new. They want to preserve the old ones, but at the same time they want to collect new things. Thousands of artists in Europe, they are spending their whole life with experiments to find new waves in art.

The quality of material what we use in Europe and the variety of selections, and the modern techniques what we use here in painting, it is hard to find in India. The artists have absolute freedom and right to show their creativity and the people’s mentality to accept any new things in the world of art is common in Europe.

©2009Vaippipadath

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