Vasudeo S. Gaitonde was a forerunner among Indian modernist painters, noted for his affiliation with non-objective art and his meditative, atmospheric abstractions. His work does not conform to the common understanding of both colour and form and provides a deep sensory experience. As a contemporary artist, Akhilesh observes that Gaitonde’s use of colour was radical. He didn’t work with a palette in the traditional way but immersed himself in the essence of one particular colour, building a whole painting around it, at his best never returning to that shade. Akhilesh writes of Gaitonde’s art being marked by a significant working with patience and precision, that the act of waiting is as much a part of the act of creating.
The challenge in writing about Gaitonde’s paintings is deciding where to begin. Should one focus on a particular phase of his work, or explore the connections between his early and later paintings? Is it possible to view his different periods from a unified perspective, or should we focus solely on the paintings that Husain admired as his singular favourite? Should we disregard his sketches, which pulse with the same energy as his paintings, or should we consider that Gaitonde’s engagement is not with colour per se, but with using colour as an integral element of his medium? His work neither fixates on nor emphasises any specific colour. His forms are illuminated from within, radiating a luminous inner light, yet infused with an underlying darkness. Sensitive viewers might mistakenly believe that Gaitonde’s primary concern is colour or that he is a master of vibrant hues. The reason for this misconception lies in the depth with which he immerses himself in the use of colour, drawing viewers irresistibly into his works.
Gaitonde doesn’t have a palette in the conventional sense. He picks a single colour and creates an entire painting around its expansion. Often, that colour never returns to his palette. His uniqueness lies in delving into the very essence of a colour, where the experience of colour becomes as vital as the experience of the painting itself. He is an artist who doesn’t play with colours but approaches them with thoughtful precision, guided more by experience than mere understanding. For Gaitonde, waiting was more significant than creating.
– Book: Unke Baare Me by Akhilesh | Original excerpt in Hindi translated into English
Born in 1956, is an artist, curator and writer. He has gained worldwide recognition and appreciation for his works through extensive participation in numerable exhibitions, shows, camps and other activities.
