Seldom known as the ‘William Turner’ of India, Paresh Maity has gained an irreplaceable position in the Indian contemporary art scene. He holds a Fine Arts degree conferred by the Government College of Art & Craft Kolkata. He later enrolled in Delhi College of Arts for his master’s. In his four-decade-long career, Paresh Maity paintings have set benchmarks in over 81 solo shows around the globe.
He was the recipient of the 2014 Padma Shri. Paresh Maity resides and works in Delhi, surrounded by the artistic influences of his wife Jayshree Burman; son Rid Burman; and uncle-in-law Sakti Burman.
Paresh Maity Art Themes and Motifs
Early in his career, Paresh Maity watercolour paintings were a trademark medium of the artist. Soon, he distanced himself from this image as he delved into human subjects as opposed to his earlier scenic atmosphere. His recent work has been lauded by critics as a bold and colourful representation of human existence. The extensive use of watercolours in his artwork has an innate depth, rendering it a unique soul. As we know, watercolors are hard to master, but for Paresh Maity watercolors were simply the interpretation of light. His paintings are not far from realism, as he strokes his brush to create myriad tonalities.
Growing up in Kolkata, he was enthralled by the diversity that only nature could provide. In his landscapes, he married the frail mood of nature with a similar malady of humans. Influenced by Rembrandt, Picasso, and Winslow Homer, Paresh Maity has hopped from impressionism to expressionism, to realism; hence, it is quite difficult to label his majestic pieces. The only thing that could be said about Paresh Maity’s artworks is that they are a confluence of styles.
Infinite Light
‘Infinite Light’ is Paresh Maity’s largest solo exhibition. The collection is a testament to its auteur’s experience and wisdom amassed over four decades. Informed by his travelogues, the multi-medium work (ceramics, installation, paintings, and sculptures) revives the memories of landscapes and riverscapes. Hence, one must be ready to face the conundrum of unpredictability.
Paresh Maity artwork, part of his ‘Infinite Light’ collection seems like a grand cosmic plan. He weaves a tale yet again, using light in his favour to portray his experiences. Just like the expanding cosmos, his oeuvre expands to incorporate the wavering nature of atmosphere; a condition all too familiar to us humans.
The Indian Odyssey
Paresh Maity was commissioned by GMR Infrastructure and then civil aviation minister Praful Patel to create a celebration of Indian identity. For this purpose, he created two ginormous paintings, The Indian Odyssey (7ft x 800 ft) and Celebration (6.2 ft x 62 ft). These paintings entail 53 and 5 panels respectively. The fixture, present at the New Delhi International Airport is perhaps his biggest work to date.
These paintings amalgamate Indian art, culture, literature, technological advancements, nuances, music, and dance to present a rich tapestry of the inherent ‘Indian-ness’ that Paresh Maity boasts of. The panels take one on a journey to the diverse cultural centers of the country; Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, to name a few. Of course, these panels would not be complete without the trademark Paresh Maity watercolor usage. These panels narrate the harmonious lifestyle of the Indian population, who are strongly rooted in their traditions while keeping an open eye towards the future.
Photo Courtesy – Telegraph India
